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| New Orleans residents flee storm | New Orleans residents flee storm |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| New Orleans residents have been fleeing in their thousands after the city's mayor ordered an evacuation ahead of Hurricane Gustav's expected landfall. | New Orleans residents have been fleeing in their thousands after the city's mayor ordered an evacuation ahead of Hurricane Gustav's expected landfall. |
| Roads out of the Louisiana port have been crammed with traffic and authorities have been helping those unable to leave by their own means. | Roads out of the Louisiana port have been crammed with traffic and authorities have been helping those unable to leave by their own means. |
| Mayor Ray Nagin predicted that Gustav would be "the storm of the century". | Mayor Ray Nagin predicted that Gustav would be "the storm of the century". |
| America's homeland security chief said the main evacuation was going well as he prepared to fly to the region. | America's homeland security chief said the main evacuation was going well as he prepared to fly to the region. |
| But, speaking at Andrews Air Base in Maryland, Michael Chertoff said some people seemed determined to ride out the storm. | But, speaking at Andrews Air Base in Maryland, Michael Chertoff said some people seemed determined to ride out the storm. |
| Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (31 August 2008) Enlarge Map | Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (31 August 2008) Enlarge Map |
| "That strikes me as exceptionally foolish," he remarked and appealed for the "maximum level of co-operation from the individual public". | "That strikes me as exceptionally foolish," he remarked and appealed for the "maximum level of co-operation from the individual public". |
| The evacuation comes three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. | The evacuation comes three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. |
| In 2005, three-quarters of the city was flooded after a storm surge breached its protective levees. More than 1,800 people died in coastal areas. | In 2005, three-quarters of the city was flooded after a storm surge breached its protective levees. More than 1,800 people died in coastal areas. |
| Gustav weakened to a Category Three storm (with winds of up to 125mph; 201km/h) after hitting Cuba overnight, but was expected to regain strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall again. | Gustav weakened to a Category Three storm (with winds of up to 125mph; 201km/h) after hitting Cuba overnight, but was expected to regain strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall again. |
| A hurricane watch is in place from Texas along to the Alabama-Florida border. | A hurricane watch is in place from Texas along to the Alabama-Florida border. |
| 'Exaggeration' | 'Exaggeration' |
| On the main roads out of New Orleans, traffic now flows in the same direction along both carriageways, carrying a stream of family vehicles to the relative safety of the north, the BBC's Kevin Connolly reports. | On the main roads out of New Orleans, traffic now flows in the same direction along both carriageways, carrying a stream of family vehicles to the relative safety of the north, the BBC's Kevin Connolly reports. |
| FLASHBACK TO KATRINA Katrina struck US Gulf Coast in August 2005 as a category three storm, killing more than 1,800 peopleNew Orleans was 80% flooded after storm surge breached protective leveesUS Government was blamed for slow, botched response that exacerbated disasterHundreds of thousands of people were displaced Flashback: Hurricane Katrina | FLASHBACK TO KATRINA Katrina struck US Gulf Coast in August 2005 as a category three storm, killing more than 1,800 peopleNew Orleans was 80% flooded after storm surge breached protective leveesUS Government was blamed for slow, botched response that exacerbated disasterHundreds of thousands of people were displaced Flashback: Hurricane Katrina |
| Many of the city's major hotels are shutting down and tourists have been advised to leave before the airport closes too, our correspondent says. | Many of the city's major hotels are shutting down and tourists have been advised to leave before the airport closes too, our correspondent says. |
| At the city's main transit terminal, reports said a line snaked for more than a mile as residents waited to board buses bound for shelters in north Louisiana and beyond. | At the city's main transit terminal, reports said a line snaked for more than a mile as residents waited to board buses bound for shelters in north Louisiana and beyond. |
| Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, in New Orleans to observe the evacuation, said about 700 people an hour could be flown out of the city. | Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, in New Orleans to observe the evacuation, said about 700 people an hour could be flown out of the city. |
| Mayor Nagin warned that in the West Bank area of New Orleans, the highest levees were just eight to 10 feet, and were at risk from storm surges that could be as high as 24 feet. | Mayor Nagin warned that in the West Bank area of New Orleans, the highest levees were just eight to 10 feet, and were at risk from storm surges that could be as high as 24 feet. |
| The floodwalls of the Harvey Canal - a waterway designed to protect residents from surges in Lake Pontchartrain - were not yet completed, the mayor said, warning that water would "punch through holes" and flood nearby areas. | The floodwalls of the Harvey Canal - a waterway designed to protect residents from surges in Lake Pontchartrain - were not yet completed, the mayor said, warning that water would "punch through holes" and flood nearby areas. |
| "Anyone who decides to stay... make sure you have an axe, because you will be carving your way or busting your way out of your attic to get on your roof with waters that you will be surrounded with in this event," he said. | "Anyone who decides to stay... make sure you have an axe, because you will be carving your way or busting your way out of your attic to get on your roof with waters that you will be surrounded with in this event," he said. |
| Eric Blake, from the US National Hurricane Center in Florida, told the BBC Mr Nagin may have exaggerated the size of the hurricane. | Eric Blake, from the US National Hurricane Center in Florida, told the BBC Mr Nagin may have exaggerated the size of the hurricane. |
| "But we still think it will be a large and powerful hurricane and a significant threat," he added. | "But we still think it will be a large and powerful hurricane and a significant threat," he added. |
| Convention dilemma | Convention dilemma |
| Republican Party presidential hopeful John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin were travelling to Mississippi on Sunday to observe storm preparations. | Republican Party presidential hopeful John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin were travelling to Mississippi on Sunday to observe storm preparations. |
| It is like a dream that is repeating itself after three years, only this time it is more intenseWilliam Ascencio, Gretna, LouisianaESCAPING HURRICANE GUSTAV | It is like a dream that is repeating itself after three years, only this time it is more intenseWilliam Ascencio, Gretna, LouisianaESCAPING HURRICANE GUSTAV |
| The Republican National Convention is due to open on Monday in Minnesota and officials are considering what to do about the gathering. | The Republican National Convention is due to open on Monday in Minnesota and officials are considering what to do about the gathering. |
| Mr McCain hinted there might be changes to the tone of the event, rather than a cancellation. | Mr McCain hinted there might be changes to the tone of the event, rather than a cancellation. |
| The White House has confirmed that neither President George W Bush nor Vice-President Dick Cheney will attend the convention because of the hurricane. | |
| Gustav claimed the lives of more than 80 people in the Caribbean, causing widespread damage in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica over the past week. | Gustav claimed the lives of more than 80 people in the Caribbean, causing widespread damage in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica over the past week. |
| At least 300,000 people were evacuated in Cuba as the storm brought extensive flooding and some severe damage, but no reports of deaths. | At least 300,000 people were evacuated in Cuba as the storm brought extensive flooding and some severe damage, but no reports of deaths. |
| Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by Gustav? Are you preparing for its arrival? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | You can send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |