Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 31, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a5 Winnipeg repress. Com Hurricane season Winnipeg free press sunday August 31, 2008 a 5 n new Orleans spooked by predictions that Hurricane Gustav could grow into a category 5 monster an estimated one million people fled the Gulf coast saturday. They began to do so even before the official order came for new Orleans residents to get out of the Way of a storm taking dead aim at Louisiana. New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin gave the mandatory order late saturday but All Day residents took to buses trains planes and cars clogging roadways leading away from the City. New Orleans is still reeling three years after Hurricane katrina flooded 80 per cent of the City and killed about 1,600 people across the Region. The evacuation of new Orleans becomes mandatory at 8 a. M. Today along the West Bank of the Mississippi River and at noon on the East Bank. Nagin called Gustav the storm of the Century and told residents to get your Butts out of new Orleans now. This is the real Deal not a test Nagin said As he issued the order warning residents that staying would be one of the biggest mistakes of your life. He emphasized that the City will not offer emergency services to anyone who chooses to stay behind. Gustav had already killed More than 80 people in the Caribbean and if forecasts hold up it would make landfall monday afternoon somewhere Between Eastern Texas and Western Mississippi. Forecasters warn that it was still too soon to say whether new Orleans would take another direct hit but residents we rent taking any chances judging by the traffic pouring from the City. Gas stations along interstate highways were running out of fuel and phone circuits were jammed. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center said they were surprised at How quickly Gustav gained strength As it slammed into cubans Western tip. It went from a tropical storm to a category 4 Hurricane in about 24 hours and was Likely to become a category 5 with sustained winds of 250 pm h or More today. That puts a different Light on our evacuations and hopefully that will Send a very Clear message to the people in the Gulf coast to really pay attention said Federal emergency management Agency chief David Paulison. Levee building on the Cit yes West Bank was incomplete. A storm surge of up to six metres would pour through canals and flood the neighbourhood and neighbouring Jefferson Parish he said. Even before the evacuation order hotels closed and the Airport prepared to follow suit. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff planned to travel to Louisiana today to observe preparations. As part of the evacuation plan new Orleans developed after katrina residents who had no other Way to get out of the City waited in a line that snaked two Kilometres through the parking lot of the Cit yes main transit terminal. From there they were boarding motor coaches bound for shelters in North Louisiana. I dont like it said Joseph Jones jr., 61, who draped a Towel Over his head to Block the blazing Sun. Going someplace you dont know people you dont know. And then when you come Back is your House going to be of unlike katrina when thousands took Refuge inside the super dome there will be no last resort shelter and those who stay behind accept All responsibility for themselves and their loved ones said the Cit yes emergency preparedness director Jerry Sneed. Standing outside his restaurant in the Cit yes Faubourg Marigny District Dale Debruyne prepared for Gustav the Way he did for katrina stubbornly. I stayed for katrina he said and ill stay again. Two East Texas counties also issued mandatory evacuation orders and authorities in Mississippi also battered by katrina began evacuating the mentally ill and aged from along the coast. In Alabama shelters were opened and 3,000 National guard personnel assembled to help evacuees from Mississippi and Louisiana. If we dont get the wind and rain we stand ready to help them gov. Bob Riley said. The associated press Tjai St James Assiniboia industries inc. We offer Job and social skills training for individuals with mental and / or physical disabilities. Need help please Call 888 5422 or 837 1930 Havana Gustav howled into cubans Isla de Juventud As a monstrous category 4 Hurricane on saturday while both cubans and americans scrambled to flee the path of the fast growing storm. Forecasters said it was just Short of becoming a top scale category 5 Hurricane As it powered its Way toward the Gulf of Mexico on sunday before weakening a Little ahead of a Likely collision As Early As monday with the u. S. Gulf coast. More than 240,000 cubans were being evacuated some hurriedly As the storm bore Down on the nations tobacco Rich Western tip. Lights flickered in Havana cubans capital As winds blasted sheets of rain sideways though the streets and whipped angry Waves against the famed Seaside male con Boulevard. State television stations went dark several times. The u. S. National Hurricane Center said Gustav had sustained winds of 240 pm a with higher gusts As the heart of the storm began hitting cubans outlying Island province of Isla de Juventud. A category 5 Hurricane has winds above 249 pm h. The rain is not so intense but there is a lot a lot of wind said Isabel Alarcon from Nueva Gerona the largest City on Isla de Juventud. The officials they have told us the wind will be bad first but then the rain could cause flooding into the night. The governments Ain news Agency said officials were evacuating some 190,000 people from Low lying parts of westernmost Cuba. Ain reported that 50,000 already had been evacuated farther East. Its very big and weave got to get ready for whats coming said Jesus Hernandez a 60 year old Retiree who was using an electric Drill to reinforce the roof of his rickety front porch. The u. S. Naval base at Guantanamo Cuba is out of the storms path. The associated press Amy Sancetta / the associated press Leshanna Carter 3, Waits with her family to Board a bus in new Orleans and flee the City before Hurricane Gustav arrives. Javier Galeano / the associated press wind and rain caused by Hurricane Gustav Pound a pedestrian in Havana Cuba. New Orleans clears out for Gustav by Becky Bohrer evacuees flee and recall the tragedy of katrina get your Butts out of new Orleans now. This is the real Deal not a test new Orleans mayor Ray Nagin reaches category 4 in Cuba Bill Haber / the associated press a 05_ aug 31 08. Ind a5 8/ 30/ 08 10 23 31 pm ;