New Orleans is preparing for the worst ahead of Hurricane Gustav. According to reports, around 1 million people have evacuated the Big Easy. A hurricane warning remains in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from Cameron, Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border.
New Orleans began a mandatory evacuation Saturday night, but this time around many residents didn't need official walking orders to flee the city that was devastated by hurricane Katrina three years ago. Evacuees left by private car, bus, planes and trains.
Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin didn't mince words about the severity of the storm he called it the "storm of the century" and told residents and visitors to "get out." Unlike Hurricane Katrina, no emergency services or shelters of last resort will be offered to those that choose to stay in the area.
Hurricane Gustav is currently a Category three hurricane that was located about 375 miles southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River at 7 AM this morning. The storm is traveling over the Gulf of Mexico northwest at about 16 miles per hour. Forecasters predict that Gustav will make landfall in the Gulf Coast region on Monday. Forecasters have said that a storm surge of 18- 25 feet above normal tidal levels are expected near and to the east of Gustav's center as it crosses the northern Gulf Coast.
Gustav was close to a Category 5 hurricane when it hit Cuba last night. 140 MPH winds destroyed fruit trees, buildings and crops. Roads were washed out and many regions are heavily flooded.
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