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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| New Orleans ready for mass return | New Orleans ready for mass return |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The mayor of New Orleans has said that nearly 200,000 residents who fled the city because of Hurricane Gustav can start coming back early on Thursday. | The mayor of New Orleans has said that nearly 200,000 residents who fled the city because of Hurricane Gustav can start coming back early on Thursday. |
| But Ray Nagin warned that some city areas were still without power, the sewage system was damaged and hospitals had only skeleton crews. | But Ray Nagin warned that some city areas were still without power, the sewage system was damaged and hospitals had only skeleton crews. |
| Checkpoints have also been set up to prevent residents returning too soon. | Checkpoints have also been set up to prevent residents returning too soon. |
| On Monday, the worst of the storm missed New Orleans - the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. | On Monday, the worst of the storm missed New Orleans - the city ravaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. |
| But Gustav - which has weakened rapidly after moving inland from the Gulf coast - caused major damage to the state of Louisiana. | But Gustav - which has weakened rapidly after moving inland from the Gulf coast - caused major damage to the state of Louisiana. |
| The exodus was the largest evacuation in state history - with an estimated two million people fleeing the storm. | The exodus was the largest evacuation in state history - with an estimated two million people fleeing the storm. |
| US officials reported eight storm-related deaths, according to the Associated Press news agency, adding to the 90 people Gustav killed across the Caribbean last week. | US officials reported eight storm-related deaths, according to the Associated Press news agency, adding to the 90 people Gustav killed across the Caribbean last week. |
| Separately, tropical storm Hanna has hit the Caribbean, causing heavy floods in the Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti. | Separately, tropical storm Hanna has hit the Caribbean, causing heavy floods in the Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Haiti. |
| In Haiti, at least 19 people were killed, officials say. | In Haiti, at least 19 people were killed, officials say. |
| Curfew remains | Curfew remains |
| Mr Nagin said a mandatory evacuation order would be lifted at midnight Wednesday and that city residents could start returning early on Thursday. | Mr Nagin said a mandatory evacuation order would be lifted at midnight Wednesday and that city residents could start returning early on Thursday. |
| FLASHBACK TO KATRINA Katrina struck US Gulf Coast in August 2005 as a Category Three storm, killing more than 1,800 peopleNew Orleans was 80% flooded after storm surge breached protective leveesUS government was blamed for slow, botched response that exacerbated disasterHundreds of thousands of people were displaced Flashback: Hurricane KatrinaIn pictures: Gustav aftermathDeadly Hanna batters Haitian city'Pure terror' for Cuba | FLASHBACK TO KATRINA Katrina struck US Gulf Coast in August 2005 as a Category Three storm, killing more than 1,800 peopleNew Orleans was 80% flooded after storm surge breached protective leveesUS government was blamed for slow, botched response that exacerbated disasterHundreds of thousands of people were displaced Flashback: Hurricane KatrinaIn pictures: Gustav aftermathDeadly Hanna batters Haitian city'Pure terror' for Cuba |
| "The message is: we want you to come into the city, check on your property, make sure that you are comfortable and make an intelligent decision on whether you want to stay in this environment or not," the mayor said. | "The message is: we want you to come into the city, check on your property, make sure that you are comfortable and make an intelligent decision on whether you want to stay in this environment or not," the mayor said. |
| He warned that New Orleans was still in a "vulnerable state" and that a dusk-to-dawn curfew would remain in effect for some time. | He warned that New Orleans was still in a "vulnerable state" and that a dusk-to-dawn curfew would remain in effect for some time. |
| The city's rebuilt levees appear to have held back surging floodwaters, although officials are still urging caution. | The city's rebuilt levees appear to have held back surging floodwaters, although officials are still urging caution. |
| Only 10,000 of New Orleans's population of some 200,000 remained in the city. | Only 10,000 of New Orleans's population of some 200,000 remained in the city. |
| In 2005, three-quarters of New Orleans was flooded by a storm surge that claimed more than 1,800 lives in coastal areas. | |
| Did you evacuate your home due to Hurricane Gustav? What is your reaction to the mayor's statement? Send us your comments using the form below. | |