Gustav Roars to Landfall as Cat. 2

Hurricane Gustav was downgraded to Category 2 as it churned toward landfall this morning, causing 9-foot storm surges and widespread power outages to the southeast of New Orleans, CNN reports. A FEMA official told the AP this morning that the eye of the storm is expected to pass west of New Orleans, but its surge will likely breech levees and at least partially flood the city that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

He said there's enough food, water, ice, and other supplies stockpiled for 1 million victims over the next three days. Mississippi’s governor also said the government is “10 times better prepared” than it was for Katrina, but added, “that doesn’t mean everything is going to go right.”