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| New Orleans residents flee storm | New Orleans residents flee storm |
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| 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. |
| Gustav, set to hit the US Gulf Coast on Monday, was described by Mayor Ray Nagin as "the storm of the century". | Gustav, set to hit the US Gulf Coast on Monday, was described by Mayor Ray Nagin as "the storm of the century". |
| It comes three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. | It 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. |
| Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (31 August 2008)Enlarge Map | Predicted route of Hurricane Gustav (31 August 2008)Enlarge Map |
| At the city's main transit terminal, reports said a line snaked for more than a mile as residents with no other means of getting out 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 with no other means of getting out waited to board buses bound for shelters in north Louisiana and beyond. |
| Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, in New Orleans to observe the evacuation taking place, said about 700 people an hour could be flown out of the city. | Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, in New Orleans to observe the evacuation taking place, said about 700 people an hour could be flown out of the city. |
| Gustav weakened to a category three storm (with winds of up to 125mph; 201kph) after hitting Cuba overnight, but was expected to regain strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall on the US Gulf Coast. | Gustav weakened to a category three storm (with winds of up to 125mph; 201kph) after hitting Cuba overnight, but was expected to regain strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall on the US Gulf Coast. |
| At least 300,000 people were evacuated in Cuba as the storm brought extensive flooding and some severe damage, but no reports of fatalities. | At least 300,000 people were evacuated in Cuba as the storm brought extensive flooding and some severe damage, but no reports of fatalities. |
| The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in New Orleans, says Mr Nagin spoke in "passionate and desperate" terms, telling a televised news conference the storm was "so powerful" and growing more powerful every day. | The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in New Orleans, says Mr Nagin spoke in "passionate and desperate" terms, telling a televised news conference the storm was "so powerful" and growing more powerful every day. |
| "I'm not sure we've seen anything like it," he told reporters at City Hall. | "I'm not sure we've seen anything like it," he told reporters at City Hall. |
| He 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. | He 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. |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| "If you are stubborn enough, if you are not taking this as seriously as we need you to take it, and if you decide to stay; you are on your own," he said. | "If you are stubborn enough, if you are not taking this as seriously as we need you to take it, and if you decide to stay; you are on your own," he said. |
| "Anyone who decides to stay, I'll say it like I said it before Katrina: 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." | "Anyone who decides to stay, I'll say it like I said it before Katrina: 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." |
| 'We're feeling very insecure' | 'We're feeling very insecure' |
| Hundreds of thousands of people are already thought to have obeyed the mayor's order to flee, clogging roadways, emptying petrol stations of fuel and jamming phone networks. | Hundreds of thousands of people are already thought to have obeyed the mayor's order to flee, clogging roadways, emptying petrol stations of fuel and jamming phone networks. |
| HURRICANE CATEGORIES FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes - Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre In pictures: New Orleans evacuationIn pictures: Hurricane GustavPreparing for Gustav | HURRICANE CATEGORIES FIVE: Winds over 155mph (249km/h). Storm surge more than 18ft (5.4m) above normal. Only three such US landfall hurricanes - Labour Day 1935, Camille 1969 and Andrew 1992FOUR: Winds 131-155mph. Storm surge 13-18ftTHREE: Winds 111-130mph. Storm surge 9-12ft. Katrina hit New Orleans as a three. TWO: Winds 96-110mph. Storm surge 6-8ftONE: Winds 74-95mph. Storm surge 4-5ft Source: Saffir-Simpson Scale/US National Hurricane Centre In pictures: New Orleans evacuationIn pictures: Hurricane GustavPreparing for Gustav |
| Sarah Debacher, who has lived in New Orleans for 10 years and is preparing to leave her home for the fourth time, told the BBC she was feeling more anxious this time round. | Sarah Debacher, who has lived in New Orleans for 10 years and is preparing to leave her home for the fourth time, told the BBC she was feeling more anxious this time round. |
| "The failure of the federal levees after Hurricane Katrina meant that we experienced devastation that we shouldn't have experienced. | "The failure of the federal levees after Hurricane Katrina meant that we experienced devastation that we shouldn't have experienced. |
| "We don't know, frankly we don't have a lot of faith in the work that's been done to repair the damage that was caused by those failures and by the storm. So, this time we're feeling very insecure." | "We don't know, frankly we don't have a lot of faith in the work that's been done to repair the damage that was caused by those failures and by the storm. So, this time we're feeling very insecure." |
| City, state and federal officials will be mindful that the reaction to Gustav will be closely scrutinised, not least because the slow and uncoordinated response to Hurricane Katrina was blamed for exacerbating the 2005 disaster. | City, state and federal officials will be mindful that the reaction to Gustav will be closely scrutinised, not least because the slow and uncoordinated response to Hurricane Katrina was blamed for exacerbating the 2005 disaster. |
| Eric Blake, from the US National Hurricane Centre in Florida, told the BBC Mr Nagin may have over-stated the size of the hurricane. | Eric Blake, from the US National Hurricane Centre in Florida, told the BBC Mr Nagin may have over-stated the size of the hurricane. |
| "I think that may be a bit of an exaggeration. I mean, they already had Hurricane Katrina, and right now this is no Hurricane Katrina. But we still think it will be a large and powerful hurricane and a significant threat." | "I think that may be a bit of an exaggeration. I mean, they already had Hurricane Katrina, and right now this is no Hurricane Katrina. But we still think it will be a large and powerful hurricane and a significant threat." |
| Republican convention doubts | Republican convention doubts |
| Hours before Mr Nagin spoke, a hurricane watch was put in place along America's North Gulf coast, from Texas along to the Alabama-Florida border. | Hours before Mr Nagin spoke, a hurricane watch was put in place along America's North Gulf coast, from Texas along to the Alabama-Florida border. |
| Republican party presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin were travelling to Mississippi on Sunday to observe storm preparations. | Republican party presidential candidate 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, Louisiana class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7590444.stm">ESCAPING HURRICANE GUSTAVopen on Monday) depending on when and where the storm hits. | |
| Mr McCain hinted there might be changes to the tone of the gathering, rather than a cancellation of the event. | Mr McCain hinted there might be changes to the tone of the gathering, rather than a cancellation of the event. |
| He told Fox News: "You know it just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster, so we're monitoring it from day to day and I'm saying a few prayers, too." | He told Fox News: "You know it just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster, so we're monitoring it from day to day and I'm saying a few prayers, too." |
| The hurricane has already claimed the lives of more than 80 people in the Caribbean. | The hurricane has already claimed the lives of more than 80 people in the Caribbean. |
| It has swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica over the past week, causing widespread damage. | It has swept through Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica over the past week, causing widespread damage. |
| It has strengthened rapidly from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, and is expected to grow to a Category 5 storm - the maximum on the scale - as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico. | It has strengthened rapidly from a tropical storm to a Category 4 hurricane, and is expected to grow to a Category 5 storm - the maximum on the scale - as it crosses the Gulf of Mexico. |
| 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. |