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Hurricane Gustav batters US coast Hurricane Gustav batters US coast
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Gustav has made landfall south-west of New Orleans, battering the US Gulf coast with torrential rain.Hurricane Gustav has made landfall south-west of New Orleans, battering the US Gulf coast with torrential rain.
Despite being downgraded to a Category Two storm, Gustav snapped power cables and choked storm drains in New Orleans. Its outer rim snapped power cables and choked storm drains in New Orleans, before weakening to Category One.
A sea surge was feared and water was clearing levees, but they were expected to hold, according to officials.A sea surge was feared and water was clearing levees, but they were expected to hold, according to officials.
"We are cautiously optimistic... we won't see catastrophic wall failure," said Col Jeff Bedey, head of the unit responsible for flood defences."We are cautiously optimistic... we won't see catastrophic wall failure," said Col Jeff Bedey, head of the unit responsible for flood defences.
US President George W Bush has flown to Austin, Texas, about 400 miles (640km) west of where the storm made landfall in Louisiana, to oversee the government response.US President George W Bush has flown to Austin, Texas, about 400 miles (640km) west of where the storm made landfall in Louisiana, to oversee the government response.
"This storm has yet to pass. It's a serious event," he said at a briefing by emergency officials. But he insisted that the emergency response to Gustav "is a lot better than during Katrina" - the hurricane that wreaked havoc three years ago."This storm has yet to pass. It's a serious event," he said at a briefing by emergency officials. But he insisted that the emergency response to Gustav "is a lot better than during Katrina" - the hurricane that wreaked havoc three years ago.
Mr Bush praised those who had heeded the warnings to evacuate, saying he understood how hard it was for citizens to "pull up stakes".Mr Bush praised those who had heeded the warnings to evacuate, saying he understood how hard it was for citizens to "pull up stakes".
Ghost townGhost town
An estimated two million people have headed inland from the Louisiana coast to escape the hurricane - the largest evacuation in state history.An estimated two million people have headed inland from the Louisiana coast to escape the hurricane - the largest evacuation in state history.
Many New Orleans residents have fled, with only 10,000 residents left from a population of 200,000. Many New Orleans residents have fled, with only 10,000 left from a population of 200,000.
Tens of thousands are also reported to have left coastal Mississippi, Alabama and south-eastern Texas.Tens of thousands are also reported to have left coastal Mississippi, Alabama and south-eastern Texas.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, who is in New Orleans, says in some streets the storm drains are already beginning to choke through the sheer weight of rain.The BBC's Kevin Connolly, who is in New Orleans, says in some streets the storm drains are already beginning to choke through the sheer weight of rain.
It is a ghost town - with only traffic lights at an intersection flickering from red to green and back again; there are no cars, our correspondent says.It is a ghost town - with only traffic lights at an intersection flickering from red to green and back again; there are no cars, our correspondent says.
The NHC said Gustav's winds could bring "extremely dangerous" storm surges of up to 14ft (4.2m) above normal. Isolated tornadoes are also possible in the area.The NHC said Gustav's winds could bring "extremely dangerous" storm surges of up to 14ft (4.2m) above normal. Isolated tornadoes are also possible in the area.
There aren't any windows but there are two sturdy doors so we feel secure; we're just drinking and watching TV and staying calm really Cian Heasley In a bar in New Orleans Hurricane Gustav as it happensIn pictures: Gustav's approachTracking Gustav on the web Levees in and around New Orleans were expected to hold, but the storm's surge could overtop the defences and partially flood the city, said Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Harvey Johnson. 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 href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/americas/05/katrina/html/default.stm">Flashback: Hurricane Katrina class="" href="/2/hi/americas/7591641.stm">Hurricane Gustav as it happensIn pictures: Gustav's approachTracking Gustav on the web
The Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, said: "We're still seeing storm surge. There's lots of rain, tornado threats... We are nowhere near out of danger yet."
The mayor urged people to "resist the temptation to say we're out of the woods", adding that heavy rainfall could still flood the city over the next 24 hours.
He told CNN that the city would not know until late afternoon if vulnerable areas would "stay dry".
Levees in and around New Orleans were expected to hold, but the storm's surge could partially flood the city, said Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Harvey Johnson.
Damage from Gustav "will be a catastrophe by the time you add it all up," he told the Associated Press news agency.Damage from Gustav "will be a catastrophe by the time you add it all up," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"We don't expect the loss of life, certainly, that we saw in Katrina," he said. "But we are expecting a lot of homes to be damaged, a lot of infrastructure to be flooded, and damaged severely.""We don't expect the loss of life, certainly, that we saw in Katrina," he said. "But we are expecting a lot of homes to be damaged, a lot of infrastructure to be flooded, and damaged severely."
In 2005, three-quarters of New Orleans was flooded by a storm surge that claimed more than 1,800 lives in coastal areas.In 2005, three-quarters of New Orleans was flooded by a storm surge that claimed more than 1,800 lives in coastal areas.
The Category Three storm Katrina swept away the city's levees under a wall of mud and water.The Category Three storm Katrina swept away the city's levees under a wall of mud and water.
Few remainFew remain
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued a final plea on Sunday to those who decided to stay and ride out the storm.
In New Orleans, a dusk-to-dawn curfew is in force. The 7,000-strong Louisiana National Guard has been mobilised and support requested from other states.In New Orleans, a dusk-to-dawn curfew is in force. The 7,000-strong Louisiana National Guard has been mobilised and support requested from other states.
The storm threatened protective walls as it approached New OrleansEnlarge Image Crime was a major problem in the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the city three years ago, causing disastrous floods.The storm threatened protective walls as it approached New OrleansEnlarge Image Crime was a major problem in the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit the city three years ago, causing disastrous floods.
The New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, has warned looters will be sent to jail.
Our correspondent says the mood among the city's remaining residents is of hope and fear.
Sandra Taylor, from Lafayette, Indiana, is visiting her daughter, who had a baby nine days ago.
"Where we live it's not in a flood zone, and we're quite sheltered," she said. "There's a few that have battened down, and sealed all the windows and stuff and disappeared. But there's a lot of other neighbours around, so I think we're just going to play the three little pigs - if one house blows away, we'll shift to the next one."
Cian Heasley, who has joined a few other friends at a bar in New Orleans, says he is "waiting out the storm with two generators, a lot of liquor and food".
"We feel quite safe at the moment. There aren't any windows but there are two sturdy doors so we feel secure. We're just drinking and watching TV and staying calm really," he said.
Levee worry
Restaurant worker Dustin Goza agreed. 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
"In some ways it's good that people are being given a chance to prepare but I think it's also an overreaction," he said.
"I've put some tape up in preparation around windows but that's it."
Concern for those facing the hurricane has prompted the Republican party to scale back its national convention where Senator John McCain is due to accept the party's nomination for president at the event in St Paul, Minnesota later this week.Concern for those facing the hurricane has prompted the Republican party to scale back its national convention where Senator John McCain is due to accept the party's nomination for president at the event in St Paul, Minnesota later this week.
Mr McCain told his party that "this was one of those moments in history where you have to put America first. We will not see the mistakes of Katrina repeated".Mr McCain told his party that "this was one of those moments in history where you have to put America first. We will not see the mistakes of Katrina repeated".
There will be no political speeches on the first day of the convention but Laura Bush, the first lady and Cindy McCain, John McCain's wife, will speak about contributing to a relief effort.There will be no political speeches on the first day of the convention but Laura Bush, the first lady and Cindy McCain, John McCain's wife, will speak about contributing to a relief effort.
Out in the Gulf of Mexico, most oil production has been shut down. Three years ago, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the region's oil infrastructure and sent oil prices soaring.Out in the Gulf of Mexico, most oil production has been shut down. Three years ago, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged the region's oil infrastructure and sent oil prices soaring.
Gustav has already 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 has already 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.
In Cuba, the storm brought extensive flooding and some severe damage, but no reports of deaths.In Cuba, the storm brought extensive flooding and some severe damage, but no reports of deaths.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Hanna has strengthened into a hurricane east of the Bahamas in the Atlantic ocean, US officials reported.
Hanna is on track to skirt Florida before making landfall on Friday in South Carolina, near its state border with Georgia, US weather experts said.
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.
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