Tropical Storm Cindy could make for major rain event in area

The Louisiana National Guard moved high water vehicles and helicopters into areas that could potentially flood.

"All arms of the state's emergency preparedness and response apparatus are taking Tropical Storm Cindy seriously, and we are calling on all Louisianans throughout the state to do so as well", said Gov. Edwards.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said the advance notice of the storm gave officials time to put emergency plans in place. In addition to flooding, tornadoes and water spouts could cause damage.

In Texas, Abbott activated four Texas Task Force 1 boat squads and two Texas Military Department vehicle squads of five vehicles each to respond to any emergencies.

A 10-year-old vacationing at an Alabama beach appeared to have become the first fatality from Tropical Storm Cindy on Wednesday, after a sheriff's captain confirmed that he was struck and killed by a log washed in by storm surge. Flood control locks and gates were being closed along Louisiana's coast. And authorities in various coastal Louisiana and MS communities handed out sandbags for areas along rivers and bayous.

The storm was centered Wednesday afternoon about 135 miles (215 kilometers) south of Lake Charles, Louisiana and had top sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph). It had top sustained winds of 60 miles per hour (97 kph).

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has extended the Tropical Storm Warning westward to San Luis Pass, TX, and the Tropical Storm Watch from west of High Island to San Luis Pass, TX. But the main danger appeared to be from rain.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu urged vigilance as bands of rain from the system swept over the city.

Tropical Storm Cindy could make for major rain event in area

Those problems began last night for roughly 7,100 Entergy customers who lost power as a result of rain, though crews had restored service to all but 150 of them by Wednesday morning, said Melonie Stewart of Entergy. Additionally, the heavy rainfall could lead to unsafe flash flooding throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

"We call them, we text them, we Facebook them, we Twitter, them".

Louisiana and MS parishes and counties made sandbags available to people who wanted to protect homes and businesses.

Waves could reach more than 9 feet along the islands' coasts. While not a forecast for which areas will be flooded due to rainfall from Tropical Storm Cindy, it gives an indication of the areas which could be at risk.This Temblor map shows the FEMA flood map for Shreveport, Louisiana.

The Weather Channel forecasts that both cities could see 5+ inches of rain as Tropical Storm Cindy sweeps its way across the Gulf Coast.

Officials said schools in Trinidad will close Tuesday and government offices in the sister island of Tobago will be shuttered.

This version corrects the location of the Escatawpa Hollow Campground in Alabama.