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New Orleans residents to return after Gustav

03/09/2008

The mayor of New Orleans has announced that residents will be allowed to return to their homes with immediate effect.

Ray Nagin today reversed a decision preventing them from returning until Thursday after almost two million people were evacuated from the city in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.

In a television interview, Mr Nagin said that checkpoints would be lifted allowing the residents to return to their homes.

Many people will continue to be without power when they return home as well as experiencing more serious damages, the mayor warned.

"This is going to be a continued challenge going forward," Mr. Nagin said.

"Some people are going to come to their homes, they’re going to find trees in the middle of their kitchens and all that good stuff. Just let us know and we'll try and accommodate you."

US president George Bush praised the emergency services and the mass evacuation, claiming that operations were much better planned and put in practice compared to three years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans.

Reports suggest ten people were killed by Gustav when struck the Gulf Coast this week, compared to the 1,600 people killed in 2005 by Katrina.