Grand Isle is a small island off the coast of Louisiana, one of the first areas to be hit by Hurricane Gustav. Mandatory evacuations of the island were ordered on August 30, 2008. As of September 1, floodwaters had cut off all routes away from the island and all but a handful of residents and journalists had evacuated.CNN: Gustav floodwaters cut off Grand Isle (September 1, 2008)NOLA.com: Grand Isle businessman standing... (September 1, 2008)

Barrier Islands like Grand Isle can help to lessen the impact of a severe storm by being a buffer between the storm and the mainland. However, people living on a barrier island tend to receive the brunt of any storm. Additionally, barrier islands are delicate ecosystems and subject to erosion, which can make them less effective in weakening a storm such as a hurricane.How Stuff Works: How Barrier Islands Work