UPDATED AGAIN & Moved Up:
Mayor Ray Nagin is ordering the mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, turning informal advice to flee from the approaching Hurricane Gustav into an official order to get out.
Mayor Ray Nagin late Saturday warned that Gustav is the “mother of all storms” and ordered a mandatory evacuation for the West Bank of New Orleans for 8 a.m. Sunday and noon for the East Bank.
“We want 100 percent evacuation,” said Nagin. “It has the potential to impact every area of this metropolitan.
Katrina had a footprint of about 400 miles, he said. Gustav is about 900 miles and growing, Nagin said.
“This is worse than a Betsy, worse than a Katrina,” Nagin said.
The mayor speculated that Gustav is so fierce Baton Rouge likely will experience 100 mph winds.
“You need to be scared and you need to get your butts out of New Orleans right now,” Nagin said.
Here is a CNN Projected Path:

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Wonderful TMV commenters have pointed out that Hurricane Gustav has now reached Category 4 and that excellent coverage is available at Eric Berger’s SciGuy Blog of the Houston Chronicle.
In addition, Moira Whelan at HuffPo asks “What’s wrong with this Hurricane?”
“I am strongly, strongly encouraging everyone in this city to evacuate,” New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said at a news conference Saturday. “Start the process now.”
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Hurricane Gustav, heading for Louisiana by way of Cuba, has reached Category 3.
Here is an NOAA 5-Day Cone:

[...] Original post by HOLLY IN CINCINNATI [...]
Now a 4 and may be a 5 when it enters the gulf.
Hi Holly — thanks for posting this.
For those folks who are concerned or interested, Eric Berger (the SciGuy) is the GoToGuy for all things hurricane if you live in the part of the country. Just at the moment, he has a post up about the storm surge, and the potentially devastating effects on NOLA. Add to that that Gustav looks to be aiming for parishes that were completely wiped out by both Katrina and Rita, this is looking very grim.
Think a good thought!
Just got home. Thanks Ron and Polimom!
[...] [...]
Cripes.
Just what our economy needs, another collosal financial disaster. At least the people are getting out better this time.
And what timing! The GOP convention will have a shadow hanging over it.. Karma..
[...] in this city to evacuate,??? New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said at a news conference Saturday. http://themoderatevoice.com/science/natural-disasters/fema/22251/gustav-grows/Read “Congress names names in FEMA trailer probe. House Democrats saymanufacturers knew of high [...]
So… Gustav is now hovering just below Cat 5 w/ winds of 150 mph. And the storm has picked up a tad of speed, with a projected Monday landfall. What this means, unfortunately, is a potential worst case scenario for New Orleans.
See here, and here
In light of all this, I'm finding jokes about how Gustav affects politics to be extremely insensitive.
Polimom, I agree!
All my family members in Lake Charles, LA and Baton Rouge, LA have evacuated safely. I can now breathe again.
T-Steel, they were directly in the target zone — so glad they're out safely!
T-Steel, I'm available to assist the ones who came to Cincinnati.
My hopes and prayers go out to you and your family, T_Steel. May they all remain safe.
Thanks Holly. I think we may be alright in Cincinnati but I will stay in touch. And thanks for the kind words Ricorun. I have an aunt and uncle from Lake Charles staying with us. Even though they are away from danger they are still very scared about what they will return to (if they return). Hurricane Gustav is just plain mean, dangerous, and ugly.
Thank God your folks are safe T, I sincerely pray all in the path of Gustav are safely out of its path as well.
Thank God your folks are safe T, I sincerely pray all in the path of Gustav are safely out of its path as well.
My hopes and prayers for the people of the Gulf. There are lots of permanent Katrina refugees who live here in East Tennessee. The tales of horror from Katrina are shocking.
Incidentally, I'm supposed to go to New Orleans on October 9 for the Southern Historical Association convention. I have not booked my hotel and plane yet. I think I'll wait.
And yes, political jokes about this hurricane are crass.
My hopes and prayers for the people of the Gulf. There are lots of permanent Katrina refugees who live here in East Tennessee. The tales of horror from Katrina are shocking.
Incidentally, I'm supposed to go to New Orleans on October 9 for the Southern Historical Association convention. I have not booked my hotel and plane yet. I think I'll wait.
And yes, political jokes about this hurricane are crass.