Gulf coast on guard for Tropical Storm Claudette

Residents of Mobile, the Eastern Shore, and much of the rest of the Gulf coast woke up to Tropical Storm Claudette. The system formed today, bringing heavy rains and flooding to coastal states including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in a 4 a.m. advisory that the storm was located 45 miles southwest of New Orleans with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. Flooding had already begun overnight, with local reports of high water over roads and stranded vehicles. Flash flood warnings dotted the coast while flood watches were in effect well inland for parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and central and northern Georgia.