...Louisiana Ordered To Evacuate As Parish Spokesman Warns Of 'Imminent Failure' Of A Dam

08-30-2012 • http://www.businessinsider.com, Michael Kelley

A parish spokesman told NBC that "imminent failure" of the dam is expected, but Mississippi officials said the water building up at the Lake Tangipahoa Dam in Percy Quin State Park wouldn't threaten communities downstream because they plan do a controlled breach in an attempt to divert the water to less populated areas.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said that the plan is to breach the dam to lower the water to about 8 feet and do a slow release into Pike County.

Hundreds were evacuated overnight as the slow-moving storm flooded areas in southern Louisiana and poured water on the 700-acre lake, which is 80 miles south of Jackson Miss. and 100 miles north of New Orleans, La.

The Weather Channel estimates that up to 60,000 residents live in the area.

Isaac is currently making its way inland, heading north/northwest at about 9 mph, with winds of about 40 mph and persistent rain.

Yesterday Weather Channel senior meteorologist Jon Erdman said Isaac will likely dump more rain over parts of Louisiana and Mississippi than Katrina did.