NZers safe after fleeing New Orleans

A dozen New Zealanders have been evacuated from hurricane-devastated New Orleans and will soon be on their way home.

The men, cabinet makers employed by Whangarei's Specialist Marine Interiors, are safe and well after fleeing the city before the killer storm struck.

Hundreds were feared dead after Hurricane Katrina hit the southern United States. But by then the Northlanders were out of harm's way, sheltering in Pensacola, about five hours drive from worst-hit New Orleans.

The company was yesterday trying to arrange flights home for the men.

But with most communication systems knocked out, the company and family members are relying on brief phone conversations and satellite television news.

Lucia Walker, whose husband Andrew is among the group of cabinet makers, said he had rung twice in the past few days.

The couple have four children aged eight to 15.

"One time to tell me he was evacuating, the second to tell me they were flying out. It's all been very brief. I've had two texts from him saying 'we're OK, we're dry'. It seems to take hours to come through."

SMI owner Grant Willis said he told staff to get out of new Orleans "before the big rush".

The men drove to Pensacola to stay with the family who owned the New Orleans apartment where they had been living -- a suburb that was hard hit by the hurricane.

"Had they stayed there it could have been pretty awful," Mr Willis said.

Mr Willis was still trying to find out how the storm would impact on the company's work with luxury boat builders Trinity Yachts. SMI makes Trinity interiors in Whangarei, dismantles them, then installs them in luxury yachts under construction in New Orleans.

"There's just no information," Mr Willis said. "The phones are down, we can't get hold of anyone and the power's out."

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)