万花筒 2008-09-01&09-02 新奥尔良迎来“卡特里娜第（在线收听）

Three years ago today, hurricane Katrina slammed into the gulf shore, creating unprecedented damage. Now fears that Tropical Storm Gustav could be eyeing the same general region. Currently an evacuation order is not in effect for New Orleans. But Mayor Ray Nagin says one could be in place as early as Saturday.

“Also I emphasize them, everyone on the west bank, this storm is different than Katrina, it is coming in a different path, and it will probably put more stress and strain on the levees on the west bank and therefore there’s significantly more risk and don't feel comfortable because you’ve got through Katrina that you survived the big one and you’re invincible. That is not the case, this is a different storm. ”

Right now the storm is leaving Jamaica at 8 miles per hour. It has sustained winds of 65 miles per hour. By Saturday it is expected it will be centered over western Cuba. Already it’s done extensive damage. More than 60 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic are blamed on the storm, mostly due to flooding and landslides. As Gustav moves toward the US coast, federal officials are gearing up. The National Guard is ready in some areas.

“I hope that you recognize, you know particularly those you were here during Katrina, er…what’s happening here and what, what did not happen during Katrina. Er…What you’re seeing is a, is a culture change, er…not only here but really across this country, a changing FEMA from a reactive organization to a proactive organization, but not just us, also the state government and the local government. ”

Governors in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have already declared state of emergency. And oil prices have risen in recent days because of fears of the storm. Forecasters say when Gustav makes landfall along the US coast. It could be as a Category-3 storm.

Rita Foley, the Associated Press.