Unidentified person found dead after a tree crashes down on a home in Prairieville; the 150-mph winds make it the 5th strongest hurricane to ever hit the mainland US

Swift emergence of category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph (230 kph) leaves no time to order mandatory evacuation, but city hopeful this time levees will hold

Storm expected to make US landfall Sunday afternoon, battering New Orleans on 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; 'Extended power loss is almost certain,' says city official

Storm slated to bring winds as high as 130 mph and flooding rains when it slams into US shores, endangering New Orleans and parts of Alabama