Cindy weakens to tropical depression

Flooding still a concern as region braces for more rain

Cindy weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression Thursday as it pushed northward along the Texas- Louisiana border. It's still expected to dump heavy rain on both states as it moves toward Tennessee and Kentucky.

The National Hurricane Center said the storm was moving north at 13 mph with maximum sustained winds slipping to 35 mph. The center of the storm was located about 165 miles northwest of Morgan City, La. Cindy should weaken to a remnant lowpressure area by Thursday night, the hurricane center said.

All tropical storm watches and warnings have been dropped.

Still, the storm could dump as much as 8 inches of rain in parts of southern Mississippi, Alabama and the extreme Western Florida panhandle through Friday morning, bringing life- threatening flash flooding. Flood watches were in effect all along the Mississippi River Valley and parts of the Ohio Valley.

Along the coast, a storm surge from one to three feet above ground level is expected from southeastern Louisiana to western Florida.

A few tornadoes were also likely through Thursday night from the lower Mississippi and Tennessee Valley regions to the central Gulf Coast.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency on Wednesday. Parts of Louisiana had five inches of rain by early afternoon, and Pensacola was slammed by more than 8 inches of rain in 36 hours.

Bracing for the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency was moving 125,000 meals and 200,000 bottles of water into the state. The Louisiana National Guard moved high water vehicles and helicopters into areas that could potentially flood.

Flood control locks and gates were being closed along Louisi- ana’s coast. Flooding was also reported on Alabama’s Dauphin Island. Power outages were reported in Morgan City and flooding was reported in parts of St. Mary's Parish.

In Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey also declared a statewide emergency, citing National Weather Service forecasts for significant flash flooding in the state.

Alabama agricultural experts warn that the heavy rain and flooding from Cindy could stir up colonies of red imported fire ants, posing a potential medical threat to people and animals.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension system stresses in a report this week that floodwaters will not kill fire ants but can disperse them.

"When floodwaters begin to recede, floating fire ant colonies will clamber on to anything they come in contact with," the report says.

It cautions people in flooded areas to wear rubbers boots, rain gear and cuffed gloves to prevent ants reaching the skin.

GERALD HERBERT, AP Don Noel carries daughter Alexis, 8, with his wife Lauren, on a flooded roadway in New Orleans.