The Gulf Coast Waits: Will It Be Another Katrina? (90 Percent Population Has Fled Louisiana Coast)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

By STACEY PLAISANCE and BECKY BOHRER, Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS - With a historic evacuation complete, and gun-toting police and National Guardsmen standing watch over this city's empty streets, even presidential politics stood still Sunday while the nation waited to see if Hurricane Gustav would be another Katrina. The storm was set to crash ashore midday Monday with frightful force, testing the three years of planning and rebuilding that followed Katrina's devastating blow to the Gulf Coast.

Painfully aware of the failings that led to that horrific suffering and more than 1,600 deaths, this time, officials moved beyond merely insisting tourists and residents leave south Louisiana. They threatened arrest, loaded thousands onto buses and warned that anyone who remained behind would not be rescued. "Looters will go directly to jail. You will not get a pass this time," Mayor Ray Nagin said. "You will not have a temporary stay in the city. You will go directly to the Big House."

Col. Mike Edmondson, state police commander, said he believed that 90 percent of the population had fled the Louisiana coast. The exodus of 1.9 million people is the largest evacuation in state history, and thousands more had left from Mississippi, Alabama and flood-prone southeast Texas.

- snip -

Against all warnings, some gambled and decided to face its wrath. On an otherwise deserted commercial block of downtown Lafayette, about 135 miles west of the city, Tim Schooler removed the awnings from his photography studio. He thought about evacuating Sunday before decided he was better off riding out the storm at home with his wife, Nona. "There's really no place to go. All the hotels are booked up to Little Rock and beyond," he said. "We're just hoping for the best."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/gustav_gulf_coast

[SmokingJacket]

1. If 10% of the population is still there, that's like 25,000 still in NO. nt

[slackmaster]

4. Yes, the 25,000 who are least able to fend for themselves

A lot of poor, disabled, and just plain old people.

[jus_the_facts]

6. Past may be prelude.....post Katrina 2005....

[bluesmail]

2. Tis the beginning. Martial Law, they're testing N O's

so when they declare it on the country they'll know what went wrong and what to do to make it go smooothly. And I have trouble sleeping at night now. Good Lord.:hi: (that's really a bye).

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. CBS crawl says Chertoff will stay in N.O.

Hostage to the storm, maybe???

[izquierdista]

5. Strapped to the roof of the Superdome?

Would the hurricane deities be pleased with a few sacrificial Repubs?? :shrug:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. I'm glad so many have left.

I hope those who remain can find safe havens...

[HeeBGBz]

8. My kids and grandkids stayed in Biloxi

My daughter is home alone in Biloxi with a one year old and a seven year old. My son stayed in town too with my third grandson. I haven't heard from him today. This is going to be a long night.