Tropical Cyclone Report - National Hurricane Center - NOAA

feet of water due to heavy rain and over-topped canals. The highest measured totals were 15.86
inches at the Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee, 13.74 inches in Boynton Beach, 13.10 inches
in Greenacres, and 13.02 inches in Port St. Lucie. Radar estimates suggested rainfall totals in
some areas could have been 18 to 20 in. A map of rainfall totals is shown in Fig. 10. The Army
Corps of Engineers indicated that the water level in Lake Okeechobee rose by about 2 ft due to
heavy rains over the lake and freshwater flowing into the lake in the subsequent days.
Most of extreme southwestern Alabama, southern Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana
received greater than 10 inches of rain, which produced both flash flooding and river flooding.
The highest totals measured in each state were 13.99 inches in Grand Bay, Alabama, 22.20
inches in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and 20.66 inches in New Orleans, Louisiana. The heavy rains
caused moderate to record flooding on several rivers in southern Mississippi and southeastern
Louisiana. In particular, record flooding occurred on the Wolf River in southern Mississippi,
where a river crest of 8.5 ft above flood stage was recorded near Gulfport and a crest of 4.4 ft
above flood stage was recorded near Landon. A record crest of about 6.5 ft above flood stage
was also recorded on the East Hobolochitto Creek near Caesar, Louisiana. While not records,
major flooding occurred on the Tangipahoa River near Robert, Louisiana, at 9.0 ft above flood
stage and on the Bogue Chitto River near Tylertown, Mississippi, at 14.8 ft above flood stage.
Tornadoes
Isaac is estimated to have produced 17 tornadoes in the United States while it was a
tropical cyclone. Most of the tornadoes were rated as EF-0 or EF-1 on the Enhanced Fujita (EF)
Scale while one was rated as an EF-2. Five tornadoes occurred in Florida, all of which were
rated EF-0. Four tornadoes occurred in Alabama, the strongest of which touched down as an EF-
1 near the city of Samson. Mississippi had 6 tornadoes, with an EF-2 downing large trees and
tearing nearly the entire roof off of a large house in Pascagoula. Three people were injured by an
EF-1 that hit near Crandall, Mississippi. Two tornadoes also occurred in Illinois, injuring one
person near the town of Franklin.
At least nine additional tornadoes occurred in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas on 1
September due to the remnants of Isaac. The strongest was an EF-2 that touched down in
Corning, Arkansas, causing extensive damage to two hangars and several aircraft at the Corning
Airport.
c. Casualty and Damage Statistics
Isaac is estimated to be directly responsible for 34 deaths in Haiti, the Dominican
Republic, and the United States. 4 It is difficult to differentiate most of the deaths in Haiti as
4 Deaths occurring as a direct result of the forces of the tropical cyclone are referred to as “direct” deaths. These
would include those persons who drowned in storm surge, rough seas, rip currents, and freshwater floods. Direct
deaths also include casualties resulting from lightning and wind-related events (e.g., collapsing structures). Deaths
occurring from such factors as heart attacks, house fires, electrocutions from downed power lines, vehicle accidents
on wet roads, etc., are considered “indirect” deaths.
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