Trop Storm Gustav May Force Evacuation; Fay an Expensive Memory for Floridians

Almost three years to the day after Hurricane Katrina savaged the Louisiana coast, New Orleans residents are facing possible forced evacuation as Tropical Storm Gustav makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico after killing 16 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and is now forecasted to strike anywhere from the Florida panhandle to Texas. 
 
Not since Katrina struck on Aug. 29, 2005, have New Orleans residents faced a forced departure from their homes and businesses as many still struggle to rebuild their lives in the city known around the world for its jazz clubs and Mardi Gras festival.  
 
Katrina left New Orleans 80 percent flooded after storm levees broke under the onslaught of winds and rain, causing $125 billion in damage. Almost 1,600 were killed in New Orleans and along the Gulf of Mexico coast. 
 
Today, with Gustav slated to upgrade from tropical storm to hurricane status by the time it hits the Gulf of Mexico this weekend, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said an evacuation could begin as early as tomorrow, which marks the three-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. 
 
Gov. Jindal said he had activated the state's catastrophic action team and could declare a state of emergency today, and has put the Louisiana National Guard on alert.  
 
"We all need to be prepared and ready to respond, from the citizen level and at every level of government," Gov. Jindal said. He says that if the threat continues, 700 buses could be made available for assisted evacuations to begin tomorrow for people who need help due to medical or other conditions.  
 
Gov. Jindal’s proactive attitude is also an effort to avoid the sharp criticism faced by his predecessor, Kathleen Blanco, who was blamed for not reacting quickly enough in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. 
Federal agencies and the New Orleans city government also were taken to task for their slow and disorganized response to Katrina, while President Bush was criticized for his role, including his initial decision to view the devastated city only from the air.  
 
Area parishes are being advised to review their own disaster and emergency plans and be prepared to evacuate if an order is given.  
 
Floridians know a thing or two about disaster and emergency. The now-exhausted Tropical Storm Fay never reached hurricane status, but nevertheless is responsible for more than 11,600 homeowners insurance claims that have been fled at four of the top writers in Florida, according to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Thus far, the tally is as follows: 
 
* State Farm leads the list with 6,166 homeowners claims, 1,174 automobile claims, and the company has taken 571 claims for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 
 
* State-run insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corp. reported 2,595 claims. 
 
* USAA reported 1,722 homeowners claims, 230 auto claims, and 185 NFIP claims. 
 
* Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co. reported 1,204 homeowners claims. 
 
Florida Governor Charlie Crist has requested federal aid, and says the state has suffered $20 million in  
agricultural damage. 
 
Although standard homeowners policies exempt flood coverage, many claims being reported are from flooded automobiles, which are covered under the comprehensive section of a policy, according to the Florida Insurance Council. Insurers also have reported damage to homes due to tornadoes spawned by the storm.