New Orleans, LA – Mayor Ray Nagin says residents who
``jumped the gun'' on a phased repopulation of New Orleans after Hurricane Gustav will not be turned away today if they have identification proving they're a local resident.
Nagin had planned to allow just businesses back today and other residents Thursday morning. However, he cautioned residents about widespread power outages and limited service at hospitals. He said he wanted to give residents an opportunity to check out there homes but would not recommend they stay until those other problems are addressed.
With confusion at checkpoints today, with neighboring parishes allowing re-entry for everyone, Nagin told WWL-TV that residents en route, who did not heed his repopulation plan, would not be turned back.
The American Red Cross says more than 11,000 people have used shelters in Alabama.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)