NEW ORLEANS -- With Hurricane Gustav approaching the Gulf Coast, city and Louisiana state officials ordered mandatory evacuations of New Orleans Sunday, making sure not to relive the mistakes of Hurricane Katrina three years ago.
An estimated 1 million people have already left southern Louisiana ahead of the dangerous hurricane.
For the first time ever, Louisiana is using a "dual contraflow" program, in which all highways in the southern part of the state are open in only one direction.
Traffic heading west out of New Orleans was not as heavy as traffic heading east.
Gustav is expected to make landfall Monday, and could bring a storm surge of up to 20 feet to the coast, and rainfall totals of up to 15 inches.
Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff said this storm could be worse than Katrina.
"Every storm is different. This will come in different than Katrina," Chertoff said. "This will be more challenging than Katrina, because there is a broader range of people that have to evacuate."
Some of the evacuees are making their way to Central Florida. The first flight from New Orleans arrived at Orlando International Airport just before noon Sunday.
Residents Warned Not To Stay Behind
Officials began the evacuation process Friday, warning all those who decide to stay that they will have to fend for themselves.
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said residents thinking about staying behind should not take Gustav lightly.
"This is worse than a Betsy; this is worse than a Katrina. This is a storm that will probably set records," Nagin said in a press conference Saturday.
Nagin also called on all tourists to leave.
So far, residents are listening and the city is starting to resemble a ghost town.
Crist Offers Help
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said the state is keeping a close eye on Gustav, and Floridians stand ready and willing to help.
Sunday night, Crist declared a State of Emergency in Florida to allow counties to help Gulf Coast states.
"We're concerned about it. We're concerned for our neighbors, too, and we want to make sure that anything that Florida can do to help our friends in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, we stand at the ready to do so," Crist said. "I've talked to my fellow governors about that fact, and communicated with our direct of Emergency Management, Craig Fuget, [Sunday] morning to reach out and make sure they know that we're here to help, and anything that we can do to be of assistance, that's exactly what we want to do."
Crist is still expected to attend the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.
Bush Cancels Convention Appearance
President Bush and Vice President Cheney will not be going to the Republican National Convention, because of Hurricane Gustav.
Both were scheduled to address the convention Tuesday.
Instead, Bush is urging people to evacuate the area of New Orleans, adding those who have evacuated will need the help of others.
Bush said he will hold off traveling to Louisiana, because he does not want to get in the way of emergency personnel.
Bus Shortage
Officials began putting an estimated 30,000 residents on buses and trains, but there has been word a number of buses predicted to be in New Orleans have not arrived as of Sunday morning.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported only 150 of 700 buses contracted have shown up to remove evacuees.
Among the bus companies listed is Jacksonville-based Landmark Systems.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said the contractor is not necessarily doing what they promised to do.
How You Can Help
The Red Cross could use your help with the recovery of those who will soon be impacted by Gustav, as well as those still feeling the impact of Tropical Storm Fay here in Florida.
If you would like to donate, go to redcross.org, or call (800) HELP NOW -- that's (800) 435-7669.
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