Hurricane Isaac 2012: First Case Of Looting Reported In Slidell, Louisiana, Major Flooding Seen In Parts Of South Carolina

By Carey Vanderborg | August 28 2012 3:47 PM

Since Isaac was pronounced a category one hurricane Tuesday afternoon, rain has been seen moving very slowly over the Carolinas, hundreds of miles from the storm's center. As much as 3.5 inches of rain fell in just 90 minutes in Charleston, South Carolina, and is causing major flooding in some locations, according to multiple reports.

JONATHAN BACHMAN/Reuters

Tropical storm Isaac has officially turned into category one Hurricane Isaac. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Isaac became a Category 1 hurricane Tuesday with winds of 75 mph and could get even stronger.

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We were stranded and had to be rescued ourselves," Tracy Amick, spokesperson for Charleston County, told CNN. "Our car had water coming through the doors. It's ridiculous right now. There are trash cans floating down the street, cars stuck, people trying to get through these flooded streets on bicycles ..."

A flash flood warning for Charleston has been extended until 5:30 p.m. ET as some roads have become impassible and flood waters will be very slow to recede with high tide approaching.

Despite the reports, the National Hurricane Center's 2 p.m. ET update says Isaac looks much the same as it did at 11:20 a.m. It remains a hurricane with winds of 75 mph.

It is now about 55 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River and about 135 miles southeast of New Orleans. It continues to move northwest at 10 mph.

A hurricane remains in effect from east of Morgan City, Louisiana, to the Mississippi-Alabama border, and a hurricane watch is in effect between Morgan City and Intracoastal City, Louisiana, the hurricane center says.

In addition to the storms progess, the first case of looting amidst Hurricane Isaac has been reported to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office.

The office says that it has issued a summons for a Slidell, Louisiana, area man and is looking for two others in connection with the looting of several boats that were docked in Slidell on Monday night, according to The Times-Picayune.

"If someone loots a business or home in St. Tammany Parish, the full force of this sheriff's office will be dedicated to finding them, putting them in jail, and making sure they are charged to the full extent of the law," Sheriff Jack Strain said in a news release.