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New Orleans ready for mass return New Orleans ready for mass return
(about 13 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 lifted the evacuation order imposed on the city because of Hurricane Gustav, more than 12 hours earlier than planned.
But Ray Nagin warned that some city areas were still without power, the sewage system was damaged and hospitals had only skeleton crews. The announcement means nearly 200,000 residents can begin returning home, although Mayor Ray Nagin warned that many services had not been restored.
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. President Bush flew over Louisiana on Wednesday to assess the damage.
Mr Bush, who missed the Republican Party convention in Minnesota to visit Louisiana, said that there was still a risk even after the storm and that residents should "listen closely to local officials and follow their instructions".
New Orleans will officially reopen at midnight local time (0400GMT) but Mr Nagin said that anyone who "jumped the gun" and arrived early would be allowed into the city.
But he warned returning residents that some city areas were still without power, the sewage system was damaged and hospitals had only skeleton crews.
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. Gustav weakened rapidly after moving inland from the Gulf coast but still caused major damage to the state of Louisiana.
US officials reported eight storm-related deaths, according to the Associated Press news agency, adding to the 90 people Gustav killed across the Caribbean.
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 remainsCurfew 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 Bush was due to visit Baton Rouge, one of the worst affected areas in the state of Louisiana.
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 class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/americas/05/katrina/html/default.stm">Flashback: Hurricane Katrina class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7594567.stm">In pictures: Gustav aftermath class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7594573.stm">Deadly Hanna batters Haitian city class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7593543.stm">'Pure terror' for Cuba David Paulison, head of the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), said Baton Rouge was hit "pretty hard" and was without power.
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 aftermathWarming boosts strongest storms
"We would caution people not to move back in until their parish president says it's safe to move back in," he said.
"Most of the areas don't have electricity. Some of them don't have water and there's no infrastructure in place - no grocery stores, gas stations - those type of things."
Mr Nagin said that New Orleans residents would be allowed to pass through the roadblocks put in place during the evacuation order.
"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.
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.
 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.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.
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