ID :
17694
Mon, 09/01/2008 - 17:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17694
The shortlink copeid
Two mn people leave US gulf states as Gustav storm approaches by Dharam Shourie
New York, Sept 1 (PTI) Jet speed winds and heavy rains from the approaching powerful Hurricane Gustav began lashing the US Gulf coast early Monday, but its fury was greeted mostly by ghost towns.
Ahead of the killer storm hitting the state of Louisiana and other gulf states, an estimated two million people had fled the area barring some diehards who plan to rough it out.
With lessons learnt from the chaos created by Katrina three years ago, the exodus, described as the largest evacuation in U.S. history, was carried out by authorities smoothly.
Though still classified as a category three hurricane, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal expressed confidence that the people of the area would brave the storm but added that those in capital Baton Rougue and other inland areas had been warned to watch for storm-spawned tornadoes.
Most people left the area by cars and some of the highways were jammed with bumper to bumper traffic. Besides Louisiana, New Orleans and other major towns, which had borne the brunt of Katrina's destruction, has been evacuated with only a few diehards in areas which were not flooded three years ago, braving to stay with supplies piled up to last several days.
The storm has so far killed 81 people as it lashed the Caribbean and three deaths were indirectly blamed in the U.S. even before it struck – three seriously sick dying while being evacuated in Louisiana.
Packing sustained winds of 185 kms per hour, the eye of
the Gustav was still located 360 kms south-east of New Orleans
and was expected to make official landfall by this afternoon.
Reports from New Orleans said only around 10,000 out of a
population of of 250,000 to 300,000 remained in the city which
was still recovering from Katrina's visit and was expected to
experience winds upto 100 kilometres per hour for several
hours.
By late Sunday afternoon, the sky had darkened there
and tell-tale breezes had begun to blow through the eerily
deserted streets.
Officials, who had come under severe criticism during
Katrina for slow response and unpreparedness, this time were
taking no chances. Not only did they issue severe warnings but
also provided buses to ferry the old, sick and the poor to
safer places and posted police and national guard to prevent
looting in aftermath of the storm.
Indian-American Governor Jindal appealed to around
100,000 people who still have not evacuated from the coastal
areas to do so, warning that only a few hours are left for the
hurricane to come ashore with all its destructive force.
Jindal said the search and rescue efforts were already in
place and would be pressed into service the moment the storm
fury abates.
Officials were expecting the loss caused by Gustav could
run into billions of dollars.
Ahead of the killer storm hitting the state of Louisiana and other gulf states, an estimated two million people had fled the area barring some diehards who plan to rough it out.
With lessons learnt from the chaos created by Katrina three years ago, the exodus, described as the largest evacuation in U.S. history, was carried out by authorities smoothly.
Though still classified as a category three hurricane, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal expressed confidence that the people of the area would brave the storm but added that those in capital Baton Rougue and other inland areas had been warned to watch for storm-spawned tornadoes.
Most people left the area by cars and some of the highways were jammed with bumper to bumper traffic. Besides Louisiana, New Orleans and other major towns, which had borne the brunt of Katrina's destruction, has been evacuated with only a few diehards in areas which were not flooded three years ago, braving to stay with supplies piled up to last several days.
The storm has so far killed 81 people as it lashed the Caribbean and three deaths were indirectly blamed in the U.S. even before it struck – three seriously sick dying while being evacuated in Louisiana.
Packing sustained winds of 185 kms per hour, the eye of
the Gustav was still located 360 kms south-east of New Orleans
and was expected to make official landfall by this afternoon.
Reports from New Orleans said only around 10,000 out of a
population of of 250,000 to 300,000 remained in the city which
was still recovering from Katrina's visit and was expected to
experience winds upto 100 kilometres per hour for several
hours.
By late Sunday afternoon, the sky had darkened there
and tell-tale breezes had begun to blow through the eerily
deserted streets.
Officials, who had come under severe criticism during
Katrina for slow response and unpreparedness, this time were
taking no chances. Not only did they issue severe warnings but
also provided buses to ferry the old, sick and the poor to
safer places and posted police and national guard to prevent
looting in aftermath of the storm.
Indian-American Governor Jindal appealed to around
100,000 people who still have not evacuated from the coastal
areas to do so, warning that only a few hours are left for the
hurricane to come ashore with all its destructive force.
Jindal said the search and rescue efforts were already in
place and would be pressed into service the moment the storm
fury abates.
Officials were expecting the loss caused by Gustav could
run into billions of dollars.
