Gulf Coast Waits for Katrina
The Gulf Coast between New Orleans and the Florida Panhandle began battening down Saturday, preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Katrina.
Mississippi officials declared a state of emergency and urged residents to leave homes in vulnerable areas for shelters set up in schools. In Louisiana, the state banned southbound traffic from interstates running north into Mississippi as of 4 p.m. Saturday, to allow coastal residents to use all lanes for evacuation.
In Mobile, Ala., the University of Mobile canceled all classes until Tuesday morning. Many of the area’s largest employers also announced closings.
The hurricane could do more damage on the Gulf Coast than it did in Florida. When the storm made landfall near Fort Lauderdale, it was a Category 3 storm, but it has been strengthening over the Gulf of Mexico and could be a major Category 4 storm by the time it makes its second landfall.