Hurricane Isaac is churning toward the U.S. Gulf Coast, sparking new warnings for residents in its path.

President Barack Obama urged residents Tuesday to get out of the way, saying “Now is not the time to tempt fate” and dismiss official warnings.

The president declared states of emergency for Louisiana and Mississippi, making both states eligible for federal funding and other aid.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says the slow-moving storm is bringing heavy rains and maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers an hour. It could make landfall late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Hurricane Isaac comes almost seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the region, killing 1,800 people and causing massive damage.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Tuesday that his city “dodged a bullet” since the Isaac is only a category one storm with sustained winds of 120 kilometers an hour. But he also said the storm is plenty strong enough to cause damage and bodily harm.

New Orleans officials are telling residents to be prepared to live without regular water or power supplies for several days.

Isaac battered eastern Cuba Saturday, after killing at least 19 people in Haiti, which is still recovering from a devastating 2010 earthquake. Two people were killed in the Dominican Republic. There were no reports of fatalities in Cuba.