FEMA assesses damage from Gustav

National Report

-- Damage assessments began Sept. 2 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following Hurricane Gustav's Labor Day weekend arrival.

Widespread power outages blocked communication routes to key veterinary officials/organizations following the storm.

No areas had yet been declared disaster areas, and the evacuation order remained in effect for New Orleans.

Every parish in Louisiana -- as well as parts of Texas, Mississippi and Alabama -- were designated as emergency areas by the FEMA this weekend.

As of Sept. 2, all Louisiana state offices -- including the state veterinarian's -- remained closed, some curfews were in place, roads were closed and evacuees were asked to be patient in returning to their homes and businesses until damage could be assessed, according to the state Web site.

Elsewhere along the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama leaders issued a mandatory evacuation in preparation for Gustav Aug. 31, but the order was lifted early Sept. 1 and state shelters were open for any evacuees but were allowing residents to return home.

In Texas, about 280,000 people self-evacuated and another 8,500 remained in shelters Sept. 1, according to the governor's office.

Emergency units, including the Texas Animal Health Commission was activated, and flooding was expected across the state as Gustav, now downgraded to a tropical depression, moves inland.

Mississippi also mobilized emergency units over the weekend, and as of Sept. 2, still has 14,000 people in shelters and was experiencing widespread power outages and boil alerts, according to state officials.