2 Million Evacuate New Orleans, Brace for Hurricane Gustav and Aftermath

Tens of thousands of homes in New Orleans remain without power today, as Mayor Ray Nagin announced that the two million residents who evacuated the City to escape Hurricane Gustav's pounding of the Gulf Coast would be allowed to return to their homes. At least 10 deaths in connection to the hurricane have been reported. More than 1.2 million homes and businesses across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arksansas remain without electricity. Another storm, Hurricane Hanna, is predicted to hit Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas within the next few days.

The Mississippi Project's thoughts are with the staff at Innocence Project New Orleans, the Mississippi Workers' Center, and the ACLU-Mississippi.

For more information:

• Hurricane Gustav Emergency Resources: links to relief efforts and emergency info
• Interviews with New Orleans residents and workers from WBAI Democracy Now! (9/3/08)
• Hurricane Gustav News and Storm Tracking on Nola.com/Times-Picayune