STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

And I'm David Greene.

One thing we've heard from people along the Gulf Coast is it happened so fast. That's how many have described rising flood waters in several parishes in Louisiana.

INSKEEP: About 30 miles west of New Orleans, St. John the Baptist Parish was flooded quickly from two lakes, including Lake Pontchartrain. Isaac's strong winds created a surge - forcing water into residential areas and forcing evacuations of thousands of people.

Plaquemines Parish seemed to be the hardest hit after a levee there was overtopped. Several dozen people were rescued - many initially by neighbors who took matters into their own hands, and their own boats.

We'll have more from the Gulf Coast throughout today's program. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.