Gustav Tests New Orleans
On Monday, Hurricane Gustav crashed ashore just west of New Orleans threatening the city devastated by Katrina in 2005.
When the hurricane reached land it was weaker than feared, but waves still poured over floodwalls containing the New Orleans Industrial Canal prompting an intense watch over the system that failed three years ago and flooded 80 percent of the city.
A few inches of water collected in streets near the canal, but U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the levees had not been breached, and city pumps were able to combat the flooding.
According to the National Guard, the Department of Defense authorized nearly 50,000 troops to help fight looting, and to help with the rescue and clean up.
Though the storm worked its way through the center of the U.S. Gulf oil-patch, gas futures fell 4 percent, easing fears of supply disruptions that could put energy markets on edge. Oil companies did have to shut down the majority of the production in the region, which supplies a quarter of the U.S. oil output.
Nearly 2 million people evacuated the Gulf Coast prior to Gustav reaching land. Only 10,000 people were believed to remain in New Orleans.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal warned residents that it was still not safe because floodwaters could take hours to recede.
"Just because the storm is moving over your area, do not think that the tidal surge impacts are yet over," he said.
Only minor street flooding was reported in New Orleans and water levels had receded in the Industrial Canal area, while Gustav continued to weaken as it moved inland.
"All in all we think we are in pretty good shape, though we are not through yet," said Corps Col. Jeff Bedey.
Officials emphasized that breaches in New Orleans levees occurred nearly a day after Katrina has passed.
Wind knocked down trees and tore shop awnings, but still lacked the power of 2005′s Katrina.
"Gustav doesn’t have no punch," said pool builder Randall Dreher. "I went through Katrina and this is totally different. It’s weak."
According to Gov. Jindal, 500,000 homes and businesses were without power in Louisiana.
EQECAT Inc., which helps insurers model catastrophe risk, estimated insured losses for Gustav to be less than $10 billion, much less than the $80 billion of loss during Katrina.
The devastation of Katrina resulted in 1,500 deaths, and an outbreak of chaos in New Orleans as people waited for government rescue.
President Bush cancelled his appearance at the Republican national convention to oversee response efforts.
Republican nominee John McCain traveled to Mississippi to survey preparations and cancelled his nomination speech at the national convention.
Earlier Gustav killed at least 96 people in the Caribbean as it passed over the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported one storm-related death in Florida.
As Gustav continues to weaken, Tropical Storm Hanna grew to hurricane strength and could threaten the U.S. coast. Meanwhile, another tropical depression formed in the Atlantic, and is expected to become a tropical storm by Monday.
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Image Caption: Hurricane Gustav over Louisiana. (NASA)