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Hundreds of Thousands of New Orleans Residents Flee Hurricane

HeadlineAug 29, 2005

As we go to broadcast the city of New Orleans is bracing for Hurricane Katrina, one of the most powerful hurricanes in the country’s history. The hurricane made landfall at about 5 a.m. central time with winds of over 150 miles per hour. On Sunday New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation for the first time in the city’s history. “I don’t want to create panic but I do want the citizens to understand that this is very serious and it’s of the highest nature and that’s why we’re taking this unprecedented move,” Nagin said. Hundreds of thousands of people have already fled New Orleans. But tens of thousands could not — including many who couldn’t financially afford to. Thousands have taken refuge in the SuperDome.

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