Louisiana residents flee

Louisiana\'s governor said an estimated 95 percent of the state’s two million coastal residents had up to yesterday flee ahead of Hurricane Gustav, in the largest evacuation in state history.



Governor Bobby Jindal said more than 200,000 people left New Orleans, leaving an estimated 10,000 people in the city last night.



New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin had demanded an evacuation of the city, which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina which struck in 2005.



Forecasters are predicting that Gustav, could hit Louisiana with devastating effect between this morning and this afternoon.



Last night, road, rail and air links out of New Orleans began to close ahead of Gustav, which was sweeping toward the Gulf Coast.