Hurricane Ike emerged into the southeast Gulf of Mexico as a category 1 hurricane on September 9th after earlier being a major hurricane as it moved across the Caribbean. Ike gradually intensified and developed an unusually large wind field as it tracked northwest across the Gulf over the next three days. Ike made landfall as a category 2 hurricane during the early morning hours on September 13th along the northern end of Galveston Island, Texas. Mainly tropical storm force wind gusts associated with Ike affected southeast Louisiana although sustained tropical storm winds were measured near the coast. The main effect of Ike on southeast Louisiana was the storm surge which inundated sections of the coast, especially Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish.
A storm surge ranging from 4 to nearly 8 feet above normal along the southeast Louisiana coast with a storm surge around 5 feet above normal in Lake Pontchartrain. The unusually high storm surge generated by the distant hurricane affected many low-lying coastal areas as well as areas around Lake Pontchartrain, but federal levees protected most of the high density population areas of greater New Orleans. Some locally built levees were breached or overtopped, most notably in southern Terrebonne Parish where 2,500 homes out of the 15,000 homes in the affected area were flooded. In southern Jefferson Parish from Lafitte and Crown Point to Grand Isle, approximately 2,500 structures were flooded. Considerable storm surge flooding was noted around Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas. Around 200 structures were flooded in St Tammany Parish from Slidell to Mandeville and Madisonville. The storm surge flooding took several weeks to fully drain from many low lying areas of southeast Louisiana. Louisiana Economic Development office estimated that Ike caused insured and uninsured property damage of at least $3.5 billion in the state of Louisiana.
The highest wind gust recorded in southeast Louisiana was 69 mph at the New Orleans Lakefront Airport ASOS site during a squall while the highest sustained wind of 55 mph was recorded at the Pilot's Station East CMAN site near Southwest Pass; however, due to the failure of equipment at some observation sites during the storm higher winds may have occurred. The minimum sea level pressure measured in southeast Louisiana was 1002.5 millibars at LUMCON facility near Dulac. Rainfall across the area was mainly less than one and a half inches.

Tropical Storm in UPPER JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in UPPER LAFOURCHE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.37M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.10M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in UPPER PLAQUEMINES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in LOWER PLAQUEMINES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in UPPER ST. BERNARD, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm Surge/Tide in LOWER ST. BERNARD, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Storm surge flooding of 5 to 7 ft above normal flooded low lying areas, roadways and property outside of the hurricane protection levees. The high water took several weeks to fully drain from some areas.

Tropical Storm in LOWER TERREBONNE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in LOWER ST. BERNARD, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in ST. CHARLES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in ST. JAMES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in UPPER TERREBONNE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in WEST BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm Surge/Tide in ASCENSION, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding occurred in far eastern of Ascension Parish near Lake Maurepas.

Storm Surge/Tide in LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding occurred near Lake Maurepas low lying roadways and property.

Storm Surge/Tide in LOWER LAFOURCHE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 ft above normal flooded low lying areas, roadways and property. The high water took several weeks to fully drain from some areas.

Storm Surge/Tide in LOWER PLAQUEMINES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 ft above normal flooded low lying areas, roadways and property. The high water took several weeks to fully drain from some areas.

Storm Surge/Tide in ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding of 3 to 5 feet above normal caused flooding outside the hurricane protection levees in far east New Orleans. Roadways and low lying propterty were flooded.

Storm Surge/Tide in ST. CHARLES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Storm surge flooding estimated 4 to 6 feet above normal caused flooding of low lying areas in the west bank areas of the parish.

Storm Surge/Tide in ST. JAMES, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 5 feet above normal on Lake Maurepas caused flooding of low lying areas.

Storm Surge/Tide in ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 5 feet above normal on Lake Pontchartrain caused flooding of low lying areas including roadways and some structures.

Storm Surge/Tide in TANGIPAHOA, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal on Lake Pontchartrain caused flooding of low lying areas including roadways and some structures in the extreme south part of the parish, south of Ponchatoula.

Tropical Storm in ASCENSION, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 24.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in ASSUMPTION, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.26M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in EAST BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.55M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in IBERVILLE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 2.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in LOWER JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm Surge/Tide in LOWER JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 87.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 ft above normal flooded low lying areas, roadways and propety from Grand Isle through the Lafitte areas. Approximately 1500 structures were flooded in this area. The high water took several weeks to fully drain from some areas.

Tropical Storm in ST. TAMMANY, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Storm Surge/Tide in LOWER TERREBONNE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 100.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: County Official

Storm surge flooding of 5 to 8 ft above normal caused widespread flooding in lower Terrebonne Parish. Several local drainage levees were overtopped or breached and parish officials reported 2500 structures out of the 15000 stuctures in the area flooded. The high water took several weeks to drain from the region.

Storm Surge/Tide in ST. TAMMANY, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 12:00:00 to 14-SEP-08 00:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 5.00M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Storm surge flooding of 4 to 6 feet above normal on Lake Pontchartrain caused flooding of low lying areas including roadways and some structures in the southern part of the parish. Early estimates were that about 200 structures flooded from Slidell to the Madisonville area.

Tropical Storm in TANGIPAHOA, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

Tropical Storm in LOWER LAFOURCHE, LOUISIANA
From 11-SEP-08 05:00:00 to 13-SEP-08 03:00:00 (CST-6)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey