"We want 100 percent evacuation," Nagin said. "It has the potential to impact every area of this metropolitan area."Katrina had a footprint of about 400 miles, he said. Gustav is about 900 miles and growing, Nagin said. "This is worse than a Betsy, worse than a Katrina," he said.
The mayor speculated that Gustav is so fierce Baton Rouge likely will experience 100 mph winds. "You need to be scared and you need to get your butts out of New Orleans right now," Nagin said.
Nagin said he expects Gustav to "punch holes in the Harvey Canal," which could cause the West Bank to become a bathtub. The West Bank has 8-foot-high to 10-foot-high protection, he said. Gustav's storm surge may be 15 to 24 feet high.
Anyone who opts to remain in New Orleans "will be on your own," Nagin warned, adding that services will not be available.
Forecast expected to be shifted a bit east overnight, setting up higher probabilities that this could be a "direct hit" unlike Katrina that actually put more damage to the east, and a full cat 4 on impact unlike Cat3 Katrina. Not being alarmist, because you never know what a hurrcane will do in the Gulf, but this one has the potential to be a baddy. God speed anyone in that area getting out.