Hurricane Lili loses its sting but forces NASA shutdown

LESS powerful but still dangerous Hurricane Lili pounded low-lying Louisiana coastal towns in the USA with heavy wind and rain on Thursday as it washed inland. Nearly a half-million people had been urged to flee.

The storm shut down the region’s resort towns, all 12 of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast casinos, NASA’s Mission Control in Houston and the nation’s biggest oil import terminal.

President Bush declared Louisiana a disaster area, setting the stage for a variety of federal aid. Federal Emergency Management Agency director Joe Allbaugh was on his way to Louisiana.