HURRICANE GUSTAV DEVASTATES NOW ORLEANS AS RESIDENTS FLEE

Story by: AJoku Christopher

Residents of New Orleans in the United States of America have been fleeing in their thousands after the city’s major ordered an evacuation ahead of expected hurricane Gustav’s landfall. The BBC News reported that roads out of the Louisiana port have been crammed with traffic and authorities have helping those unable to leave by their own means

Major Ray Nagin described Hurricane Gustav which is set to hit the United State Golf coast on Monday, as “the storm of the century”. The much dreaded storm is to come three years after Hurricane Katrina Devastated New Orleans. In 2005, more than 1,800 people died in the coaster areas following the flooding of three-quarters of the city after a storm surge breached its protective levees.

It was gathered that traffic now flows in the same direction along both carriageways on the main roads out of the city, carrying a stream of family vehicle to the relative safety of the North. Most major hotel in the city is shutting down and tourists have been advised to leave before the closure of airports. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Governor, told New Orleans to observe the evacuation and said about 700 people could be flown out of the city every hour

Gustav is said to have weakened to a category three storm (with winds of up to 125 mph; 201 km/h) after hitting Cuba overnight, but is expected to regain strength in the Gulf of Mexico before making landfall again.

 

Back to Home Page