Evacuation A Success, New Orleans Levees Hold

New Orleans, is saved from disaster as the levees hold. After historic and unprecedented evacuation of nearly 2 million people.

National Guardsmen, and members of the Coast Guard adverted a possible disaster by keeping a propane tank and ships from battering up against the levees and possibly breaching them.

They risked their own lives to save the City of New Orleans by going out into the Hurricane and in one case diving into the canal to tie a line onto the propane tank.

In all there have been six reported deaths attributed to the storm in the United States. With damage estimates at $6-10 billion last I saw.

Though largely a success, the low impact may have future repercussions since not so many may heed the evacuation warnings next time around, but that remains to be seen.

Also, though the levees held, some were over topped by the surge which is not a breech, but they may not stand up well to a Category 4 or higher storm, but the Army Corps of Engineers say more work remains to be done on the levee system.

Good job to all those involved.

Gustav Increases To Category 4, Evacuations Begin

While a mandatory evacuation has not yet been called for, officials are calling on New Orleans residents to "get out."

New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin (D), along with a half-dozen police, fire and community leaders, encouraged residents Saturday to leave the city as soon as possible.

"We are strongly, strongly encouraging everyone to evacuate and go north," Nagin said. "Tourists, it is time for you to leave the city. Do not wait to start the evacuation. This storm is starting to be a little tricky. We want to encourage everyone to take this storm very seriously."
"We are telling people to get out today," he said, adding, "The next time you hear us, the message is going to be 'get the heck out.' "

Mayor Nagin, known as a straight shooter is telling everyone to leave the area residents and tourists alike and also indicated that they will step up the rhetoric as the storm gets closer to the City.

As you will see in an AP video below, the Mayor and police officials stated that while a curfew is not yet in effect, if you are in the City and not on your own property you will be arrested.

For Current Status of Gustave with historical track of Katrina.

Earlier posts on Gustave in order:

New Orleans Considers Evacuations

Gustave becomes Cat 1, Killer Storm

Gustave Becomes Cat 3, Evacuations Begin

Note: This will most likely be our last update until landfall baring something extraordinary since most people seem to be following the evacuations.

AP Video

AP Video

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Gustav Becomes Catagory 1 Hurricane, Already A Killer Storm

On the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Gustav becomes Category 1 Hurricane and heads for New Orleans, as per current tracking of the storm.

Gustav as of this writing has already killed 78 people in the Caribbean, with Hatti suffering the worst number of casualties so far with a a death toll of 59, 11 in Jamaica and eight in the Dominican Republic, officials said.

The National Hurricane Center says "...STRENGTHENING SEEMS IMMINENT AND COULD EVEN BE RAPID."

With this post we are please to announce that we are now able to bring you storm pulse.
We will make posts with this incredible storm tracking data, and if you scroll to the bottom of our home page you will find the current data available.

Powered by hurricane-tracking software from Stormpulse.com.

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New Orleans Considers Evacuation AS TS Gustav Heads To Gulf

With Tropical Storm Gustav swirling near Cuba and likely to enter the Gulf of Mexico as a hurricane this weekend, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said an evacuation could begin as early as Friday -- three years to the day after Katrina inundated New Orleans.

Jindal said he had activated the state's catastrophic action team and could declare a state of emergency as early as Thursday. He also put the Louisiana National Guard on alert.

"We all need to be prepared and ready to respond, from the citizen level and at every level of government," Jindal said.

Jindal, elected as governor in October 2007, is hoping to avoid heavy criticism that fell on his predecessor, Kathleen Blanco, for not reacting quickly enough after Katrina.

Federal agencies and the New Orleans city government also faced the wrath of residents over their response to the disaster, while President George W. Bush was criticized for his role, including his initial decision to view the devastated city only from the air.

After Katrina, chaos broke out in New Orleans as stranded flood victims waited days for help. Many residents who fled the hurricane have not returned.

On Wednesday, Gustav drifted away from Haiti and the Dominican Republic after killing 16 people. Forecasters warned the storm may still become a dangerous hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, with their models showing it most likely on track to hit anywhere from the Florida panhandle to Texas.

Jindal said if the threat continues, his state could make 700 buses available for assisted evacuations, which could begin on Friday for people who need help due to medical or other conditions.

He advised other residents of the southern parishes to review their own emergency plans and be prepared to evacuate if an order is given.

The state's Office of Emergency Preparedness held a conference call on Wednesday afternoon with the presidents of all area parishes and emergency personnel to review current conditions and disaster plans.

The Louisiana SPCA announced it would shut down its shelter and begin evacuating the animals to other shelters.

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