Central Valley Families Worry For Relatives Near Hurricane Isaac

CITRUS HEIGHTS (CBS13) - Sacramentans with family in and around New Orleans have been glued to the TV watching and waiting.

They're concerned because one family is in the heart of the storm in New Orleans and there is another family with relatives in Baton Rouge, bracing for the worst.

Watching from their living room couch, the Barkers are glued to their Citrus Heights television set. They've been on the phone since Isaac made landfall, getting constant updates. Their family is in Baton Rouge, just northwest of the Big Easy.

The worst hasn't hit yet, but Isaac has let the Barkers' relatives know, he's on his way.

"The winds are blowing really bad. A tree fell on her house," said Pat Barker.

The Barkers are among the countless Central Valley families with ties to the Gulf Coast who don't want their loved ones reliving Katrina.

"They are getting ready for the storm. It's supposed to come in around 1 a.m. this morning," said Pat.

"The flooding is really, really bad," said Linda Evans, who has relatives in Louisiana.

Evans' family is just on the outskirts of New Orleans, experiencing Isaac's impact firsthand.

"Mainly the flooding; a lot of flooding, so they've asked us to say some prayers," said Evans.

That has been the theme for loved ones 2,000 miles away here in Northern California.

"All you can do is pray and believe that God's going to take care of them," said Pat.