Hurricane Gustav Could Become Category 5 Storm

Hurricane Gustav is a category 4 storm. Forecasters are calling it a monster as it enters the Gulf. Thousands of people are evacuating New Orleans. The current track puts the storm right on Louisiana.

Forecasters are warning that Hurricane Gustav is taking aim at the Louisiana coast. The storm is already a Category 4 with 150 mph winds.

Thousands of residents in New Orleans are taking early pre-cautions with early evacuations. New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, said he will begin mandatory evacuations starting on Sunday.

Hurricane Gustav comes one day after the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. New Orleans lies below sea level. Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm.

Many people in New Orleans have packed their belongings into cars and trucks. After Katrina, no one is taking any chances. Residents are taking Gustav very seriously.

On August 29, 2005, Katrina sent a massive storm surge that broke through protective levees and flooded 80 percent of the city. The city degenerated into chaos as stranded storm victims waited days for rescue.