Forecasters predict hurricane of the century could hit New Orleans

As Hurricane Katrina heads to New Orleans, authorities have issued a mandatory evacuation order for the city of New Orleans. Katrina has been upgraded to Category 5. Only 3 category 5 hurricanes have hit the United States. This makes this especially problematic for New Orleans because it lies below sea level. This makes the city especially prone to flooding. There are an estimated 100,000 people who were unable to leave the city and trying to get into the Superdome. President Bush has also declared a state of emergency in the effected states. This will allow federal agencies to provide immediate assistance to local authorities and citizens.