Isaac knocks out power to half of Louisiana - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Nearly half of Louisiana is without power as Tropical Storm Isaac moves inland.

The Public Service Commission says 901,000 homes and businesses around the state - about 47 percent of all customers - are without power Thursday.

In neighboring Mississippi, utility companies say they are working to restore power to more than 150,000 customers in south and central parts of the state.

Isaac's center bypassed New Orleans and its newly fortified levees as a hurricane Wednesday but flooded areas to the city's north and south, where people had to be evacuated or rescued. It weakened slightly to a tropical storm but was still packing strong winds and torrential rain as it moves slowly across Louisiana.

With widespread flooding, rescuers are evacuating residents who were stranded.

In rural Braithwaite, 40 minutes south of New Orleans, rooftops stood out like islands in a sea of flood waters.

"I grew up right here. I ain't never seen water like this," said Dan Mason, resident.

Mason never expected he would have to leave his house through an upstairs window. That was the price of his miscalculation.

"By the time I realized water was coming in, it was almost half way up the flight of steps - so it was quick," he said.

In Plaquemines and St. Bernard parish, dozens had to be rescued by boat after the storm surge sent waters flowing over the top of an earthen levee. Among them was 73-year-old dialysis patient Mazi Lucas.

"They pulled us out, thank God, before the water came into the attic," she said.

Isaac, packing driving rains and 80 mile an hour winds, made landfall in Plaquemines, a huge parish split in two by the Mississippi River. Unlike New Orleans, its levees are not part of the federally financed and built system. Still, the man in charge here is stunned by what Isaac has done.

"This wasn't supposed to be a Katrina. It's turning out for the east bank to be as bad, if not worse. We've got areas on the east bank that flooded on this event that never flooded for Katrina," said Billy Nungesser.

To the north, New Orleans was hard hit, but escaped a repeat of its fate of seven years ago. The post-Katrina upgrade of its levees and pumps by the Army Corps of Engineers paid off.

"It's operating as it's designed. We have no reason to believe that that system will be compromised," said Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Still, the Big Easy had big problems with localized flooding, including roads and a ball park. There were lots of downed trees and power lines, too.

From Louisiana to Alabama, nearly three-quarters of million customers lost power as Isaac lashed the area with high wind, rain and a powerful storm surge - and, at 8 mph, was in no hurry to leave.

"We're gonna continue to see the weather effects of the storm, especially as it continues to move toward the northern parts of our state," said Gov. Bobby Jindal.

In Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, soldiers navigated coastal streets that had been turned into rivers. Parts of Biloxi and Gulfport were underwater. Later a tornado spawned by the storm damaged a pair of Gulfport homes but left no one hurt.

Meanwhile, back in Louisiana, Dan Mason is happy to have made it out of his flooded house alive. Now comes the hard part.

"Start all over again. Guess that's what you pay for when you live down this way," he said.