'Anywhere is better than here'

NEW ORLEANS - Nobody really wanted to leave, everyone had reasons to stay. Mostly, it was the realisation that the homes they were sitting in were all they had - and no one knew when they would be coming back.

But eventually the realisation struck: without food or water, without power and without any real expectation of getting these things turned around any time soon, there was really no alternative but to leave.

These hard-core remnants, some 10,000 or so still estimated to be in this city, were being evacuated after Mayor Ray Nagin said there was no alternative. "The sounds of New Orleans were jazz, people laughing, people eating a good meal. And now the sounds of New Orleans are helicopters and Army vehicles. This is almost surreal."

The police, coastguard and federal officials are at this stage being firm, telling the people they really must leave. It is expected that by today they are going to be getting tougher. One official said the National Guard would deal with anyone refusing to leave by "throwing them on to a truck".

"I had stuff to live on, food and water," said Gregory Lukins, an evacuee being taken to the convention centre from where 1000 people a day were being flown to the airport and there put on planes out of the city. "At first I did not want to leave. But the conditions have got worse. There is no water, no power."

One thing he did not know was where he would be taken. "I don't mind. Anywhere is better than here."

- INDEPENDENT