Cat 3 Hurricane Gustav Near Cuba, Headed Toward Central Gulf Of Mexico

August 30, 2008 6:42 a.m. EST

Miami, FL (AHN) - Hurricane Gustav is now a category 3 hurricane with winds up to 150 miles per hour and it is expected to be in the central Gulf of Mexico by Sunday or Monday where it could affect Texas and Louisiana, or even go as far east as Mississippi or Alabama.

Coastal residents being evacuated are having to head further northward than usual because Labor Day holiday tourists have taken all the rooms in some areas.

National Guard troops have arrived in New Orleans and Houston, prepared to assist residents and patrol the streets if the hurricane strikes there. Oil companies are evacuating employees from rigs in the Gulf ahead of the storm, shutting down operations there.

Gustav was near Cuba at 6:30 a.m. Saturday.The waters over the Caribbean were very warm overnight and Gustav quickly gained strength.

Hurricane warnings remain in effect there and for the Cayman Islands as well as tropical storm warnings for the Florida Keys.

The hurricane is moving toward the northwest at 12 miles per hour, it has hurricane force winds outward 65 miles and tropical force winds extend outward 160 miles from the storm's center.

Although the Republican National Convention is being held many miles and states away in Minnesota, Gustav might affect the convention also.

Hurricane Gustav could delay the Republican Convention because Republican governors of the potentially affected states don't want to be seen outside their states during a disaster after the public backlash from the mishandling of Hurricane Katrina by the Bush administration.