Gustav floodwaters cut off Grand Isle

GRAND ISLE, Louisiana (CNN)–Seawater washed across Grand Isle just
before dawn as the storm surge from Hurricane Gustav pushed into Barataria Bay.

"The levee on the beach seems to be holding up," said Grand Isle Fire
Captain Deacon Guidry. "The water is just starting to rise from the bay side."

Guidry completed an inspection tour of the island just before dawn. He
said that he saw sheet metal from roofs on the road and powerlines down, even
before the powerful winds from the storm had reached the island.

"We're not yet rocking and rolling," he said.

Guidry, who is staying with others from the island in a reinforced house,
said the flooding pattern is similar to that of Katrina, with the storm surge
washing over from the backside of the island. At 5:30 a.m. CT floodwaters
surrounded the house, cutting off all exits from the island.

"It's like a tide that comes up and up and up," Guidry said.

The National Hurricane Center said Grand Isle is expected to be "ground
zero" of the storm, with the eye passing over the island later in the day.