Cars and trucks clogged roads back to the Louisiana coastline Wednesday as the 2 million evacuees from the threat of Hurricane Gustav tried to return home. While the city of New Orleans would not officially welcome back residents until midnight, surrounding communities already were accepting returning people. Mayor Ray Nagin said nobody would be turned away from the city if they tried to return early, but warned that New Orleans was still in a “very, very vulnerable state.” “I don't want people heading in yet,” Nagin said Wednesday. “But if they [come too early], we will let them through.” Those trying to get home expressed anger that it was taking so long for authorities to allow them to return after Gustav's strike on Monday. After spending days with relatives, in hotels, or in overcrowded shelters, evacuees returned to find another set of problems. Gustav caused very little damage compared to 2005's Hurricane Katrina, but there were still nearly 800,000 homes in Louisiana without power, including about 77,000 in New Orleans. Officials said the main power transmission lines into southern Louisiana were crippled, and they had no timetable for when much of the electricity may be restored. The remnants of Gustav moved north into Arkansas, knocking out power to 100,000 homes and businesses there as strong winds and heavy rains caused flash flooding in parts of the state.
