Hurricane Isaac has made landfall in southern Louisiana as it heads toward New Orleans on the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The Category 1 storm is producing winds of at least 80 miles per hour and is expected to bring heavy flooding. It will mark the most serious test of New Orleans’ rebuilt levees. At least 200,000 people have lost power throughout the Gulf Coast area, and some 50,000 were slated to evacuate New Orleans. On Tuesday, President Obama warned of the potential of major damage from flooding.

President Obama: “As we prepare for Isaac to hit, I want to encourage all residents of the Gulf Coast to listen to your local officials and follow their directions, including if they tell you to evacuate. We’re dealing with a big storm, and there could be significant flooding and other damage across a large area. Now is not the time to tempt fate. Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously.”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu warned the city is on the “front lines.”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu: “Do not let this storm lull you into complacency. That would be a terrible mistake. We have dodged a bullet in the sense that this is not a Category 3 storm, but a Category 1 at this strength, from 85- to 100-mile-an-hour winds with a 125 miles an hour of gust, is plenty big enough to put a big hurt on you if you fall into complacency. So let’s not do that.”