国际英语新闻:Hurricane Isaac weakens to tropical storm, threats remain

The southern U.S. states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama have been on high alert against the threat of Isaac. Thousands of residents living in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were told to leave their coastal houses since Monday.

Earlier Wednesday, U.S. President Barack Obama called Governors of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana as well as Mayor of New Orleans, pledging that the federal government was ready to provide local officials with necessary support and resources needed. He also acknowledged the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina provides of the lasting effects these types of storms can have on communities.

Wednesday marks the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005. The hurricane was the costliest natural disaster, and one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. At least 1,836 people died and total property damage was estimated at 81 billion U.S. dollars.

A day earlier, Obama warned residents living alongside the expected path of Isaac of significant flooding and other damages. He urged them to evacuate in time to safe grounds.

Also, Florida, Louisiana and Alabama have already declared states of emergency over the weekend, fearing that Isaac might repeat the disaster that Hurricane Katrina brought to the Gulf coast just seven years ago.