JJT
08-31-2008, 09:21 AM
About a million evacuate as Gustav nears
Storm weakens as warning set from western La. to Ala.-Fla. border
NBC News and news services
updated 49 minutes ago
NEW ORLEANS - As dawn broke Sunday over a city under siege, bumper-to-bumper traffic was reported in nearly every direction as residents heeded orders to flee an only partially rebuilt New Orleans. Police and National Guard troops were on the streets, preparing to patrol evacuated neighborhoods. And officials nervously watched the track of Hurricane Gustav, a Category 3 monster that threatens a city still recovering nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina.
Gustav had weakened while crossing western Cuba on Saturday but was expected to strengthen in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm had picked up speed and was moving northwest at 16 mph with winds of 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane center's 8 a.m. EDT advisory. Gustav's center was about 375 miles southeast of the Mississippi River's mouth.
It was projected to make landfall as early Monday, and could bring a storm surge of up to 20 feet to the coast and rainfall totals of up to 15 inches.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26451955
Storm weakens as warning set from western La. to Ala.-Fla. border
NBC News and news services
updated 49 minutes ago
NEW ORLEANS - As dawn broke Sunday over a city under siege, bumper-to-bumper traffic was reported in nearly every direction as residents heeded orders to flee an only partially rebuilt New Orleans. Police and National Guard troops were on the streets, preparing to patrol evacuated neighborhoods. And officials nervously watched the track of Hurricane Gustav, a Category 3 monster that threatens a city still recovering nearly three years after Hurricane Katrina.
Gustav had weakened while crossing western Cuba on Saturday but was expected to strengthen in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The storm had picked up speed and was moving northwest at 16 mph with winds of 120 mph, according to the National Hurricane center's 8 a.m. EDT advisory. Gustav's center was about 375 miles southeast of the Mississippi River's mouth.
It was projected to make landfall as early Monday, and could bring a storm surge of up to 20 feet to the coast and rainfall totals of up to 15 inches.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26451955