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Hurricane Gustav losing strength Caution urged as Gustav weakens
(about 1 hour later)
Hurricane Gustav is moving inland from the US Gulf coast after the worst of the storm missed New Orleans - the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.Hurricane Gustav is moving inland from the US Gulf coast after the worst of the storm missed New Orleans - the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Gustav, which has now weakened to a tropical storm, is expected to slow further as it moves north across Louisiana and into Texas. Gustav, which brought torrential rain, has now weakened to a tropical storm.
In New Orleans, the city's levees are holding surging floodwaters, although sea levels could still rise further. The levees in New Orleans appeared to be holding surging floodwaters, although officials urged caution.
Some two million people have fled inland from the Louisiana coast. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin advised the two million people who had fled inland ahead of Gustav's arrival to stay away from the city for at least another day.
Gustav, which had left nearly 90 people dead last week as it crossed the Caribbean, made landfall west of New Orleans on Monday. "Re-entry is just days away, but residents shouldn't return Tuesday," Mr Nagin said, adding that officials would check the scale of damage.
It is now quickly losing strength and has been downgraded to a tropical storm with winds of 60mph (95km/h), the Florida-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) says. "Trees are down all over the city, power lines are down all over the city, and there is a significant number of homes and businesses without energy."
Gustav was expected to move into eastern Texas overnight, dumping as much as 20in (50cm) of rain there by Thursday. Ghost town
Gustav, which left nearly 90 people dead last week as it crossed the Caribbean, made landfall west of New Orleans on Monday.
US officials reported eight storm-related deaths, according to the Associated Press news agency.
Gustav is now quickly losing strength and has been downgraded to a tropical storm with winds of 60mph (95km/h), the Florida-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) says.
In preparation for the storm, oil companies had shut down nearly all production in the Gulf region, which accounts for about 25% of domestic output in the US.In preparation for the storm, oil companies had shut down nearly all production in the Gulf region, which accounts for about 25% of domestic output in the US.
Firms will not be able to assess the damage from the storm until the winds have died down and surveillance flights can be carried out, correspondents say.
On Monday, the price of oil in the US fell more than $4 a barrel to just above $111 - partly because Gustav was weaker than expected earlier.On Monday, the price of oil in the US fell more than $4 a barrel to just above $111 - partly because Gustav was weaker than expected earlier.
Ghost town
The exodus from the Louisiana coast was the largest evacuation in state history.The exodus from the Louisiana coast was the largest evacuation in state history.
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 class="" 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 happens class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7591470.stm">Tracking Gustav on the web Many New Orleans residents left, with only 10,000 from a population of 200,000 remaining.
Many New Orleans residents have fled, with only 10,000 left from a population of 200,000. Tens of thousands were 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. In New Orleans, a sea surge of up to 14ft (4.2m) had been feared and water was clearing levees as the outer rim of the storm brought heavy rains and winds.
In New Orleans, a sea surge of up to 14ft (4.2m) was feared and water was clearing levees as the outer rim of the storm brought heavy rains and winds.
Waves were causing some flooding but the city's pumps were keeping up with the flow, said a spokesman for the army unit responsible for the city's flood defences.Waves were causing some flooding but the city's pumps were keeping up with the flow, said a spokesman for the army unit responsible for the city's flood defences.
Convention
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said that although the high water pressing the walls raised the potential for problems, officials were "confident in the resilience" of the levees.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) said that although the high water pressing the walls raised the potential for problems, officials were "confident in the resilience" of the levees.
"We don't expect the loss of life, certainly, that we saw in Katrina," Fema spokesman Harvey Johnson said. 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 class="" 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 happens class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7591470.stm">Tracking Gustav on the web
"But we are expecting a lot of homes to be damaged, a lot of infrastructure to be flooded, and damaged severely."
The Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, has urged caution.
He said: "We're still seeing storm surge. There's lots of rain, tornado threats... We are nowhere near out of danger yet."
Jim Huff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Hurricane Gustav
He said people should not rush to return to the city.
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.
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 prompted the Republican party to scale back its national convention in St Paul, Minnesota, where Senator John McCain is due to accept the party's nomination for president later this week.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Hanna - a category one storm - has developed near the Bahamas in the Atlantic ocean, the NHC says.Meanwhile, Hurricane Hanna - a category one storm - has developed near the Bahamas in the Atlantic ocean, the NHC says.
In addition to Hanna, Tropical Storm Ike has formed midway between the Caribbean and Africa, and could become a hurricane within two days, the centre says.In addition to Hanna, Tropical Storm Ike has formed midway between the Caribbean and Africa, and could become a hurricane within two days, the centre says.
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? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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