Mandatory, Voluntary Evacuations Underway Along Gulf Coast Ahead Of Cat 3 Hurricane Gustav

August 30, 2008 10:35 a.m. EST

New Orleans, LA (AHN) - Traffic is bumper-to-bumper as residents head north out of New Orleans ahead of category 3 Hurricane Gustav, which is expected to reach the south central Gulf of Mexico on Sunday or Monday.

Winds are at 135 miles per hour. Mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, while residents in some other Gulf Coast areas are leaving voluntarily.

Earlier this week, oil companies began evacuating crews from oil rigs in the gulf. Some shrimp boat crews are also leaving.

About 25 percent of oil production comes from the Gulf of Mexico and shutting down operations could drive oil prices higher if a big storm hits and prevents companies from restarting oil production in a week or so, or if a bad storm damages oil rigs and platforms.

Gustav has killed several people in the Caribbean.