Title: Gustav begins to reach Gulf Coast

" Much Chris now for the latest on this -- we are joined on the phone by Jefferson parish president Aaron Broussard now this is the first just west of New Orleans. And one of the areas that is considered most vulnerable. Good morning. Good morning jacket -- while Mike Wallace who's doing this total JS been a -- trust them. And referring to my former co -- down there in New Orleans area embers are and I go way back is so good to hear your voice this morning at this ridiculous -- not do storm that would -- I think bottomed out but tell me did you write it good stuff I -- little after the -- that -- and to assure you may have been up for a long time and I know you just got up the phone the National Hurricane Center what are they telling --"

" It looks like this are still come out -- editorial of course category three is what Betsy came meant all of in the sixties and ultimately would Katrina we got the effects. Other three in win but we got the effects of a category five in surged. If necessary so we're worried about right now as the storm begins to calm. It's all rushed back get all these -- we've been saying about. Also erosion in the -- duration rob barrier islands and marshlands. And the the back door was lost pals now this is coming home to roost. What a storm like this that's going to come right -- that. This surge is going to travel really unimpeded. From the gulf for next drove right into. The back of our urban areas on the West Bank. Down and we're we're very concerned about this yesterday. The wheel -- surge amounts there could've brought up into this one of these which would have been absolutely. Devastating. To the west bag now they're looking at surges. -- ties and I'd feel more which still. All the top firms themselves early detection of these for the Harvey canal. Could try until the top eleven system and the rest of the worst -- social very serious threat just. Particularly on the West Bank not just the way and that just tornadoes. But it settled but the surge the -- it was so devastating. And Katrina on the east side -- region now become the threat on the west side of our region."

" Let me ask you this and I you expect for our viewers here who may not be familiar with the with the Jefferson parish down there they do know what they sought after Katrina they know. That they saw I you know houses leveled etc. are we talk about that kind of devastation when you talk about the western side those levels."

" you work -- yes -- that you were talking about Kevin Davis on the north shore. -- late bush talked about a 23. Foot surge sitting slept well let's not forget -- this morning right. Not out -- understand yes she -- met the power and are you be concerned that we had now he's still look at that of that horrible surge. You know in this rather -- rural area -- might be looking at fifteen feet. Ball more it's it's too early itself but look at that we'll know pretty soon but these -- as -- move -- up it's not just the surge amount. He got the weight factor on top of the surge about so which you have that you got a certain block the water that's true or surge like force amber. On top of that being that the way to action that crates and -- are in effect. As an overtaxed and rightly so the surge beach against the Levy and in the wave action goes over and begin this hour. On the land side it already and I rode those steps which did begins to erode the integrity of the racist."

" Obvious that the -- system was the big story after Katrina. The eastern. Levees in New Orleans -- worse shored up its -- western side that's going to be impacted. Today's greatest extent this time how confident are you on the in in the Levy system where you are -- and how many homes potentially could be affected."

" I would at best protected you've ever been called you have to give you some updates. Since you have brought this for instance we've now got the butterflies blocks Abdullah Al -- Completed and that protects against surge actually have a seat that's in place. We put a barge -- that the company canal on the city of course we go. That's good place -- to train up the Serb army shall always had a full for the Levy. All the little little integrity and -- are not Katrina have been real well pushed the water right up for the top one very much fear for the breach. -- agree to what now we've got an eight foot Levy there. Which is very publicized here as to train up. However again on foot surge or twelfth this surge. -- certainly test. You know that Levy to the back so it's not that we're not better protected we all -- tremendous amount improvements have been done by the corps of engineers. You know and by the Levy system here locally. It's just that what mother nature throws that you. Problem they always trump. What you have done an improvement so we're making great progress but mother nature can always humble view. Are admirable progress you've made it she throws more tragic than what you dep protection for."

" And here she is you know coming right at you -- three years after Katrina can you talk about the emotional toll this storm has taken on the people there."

" Well it's safe first of all that the people have reacted very well to the evacuation orders and objections are -- called the first ever in history mandatory evacuation orders. We put laws in effect after Katrina to allow -- mandatory but to protect people's lives in. And overwhelmingly the people all all of these bankable aspect objection Parcells left. But it also have to water and brought all the -- is nobody's going to fool around August bomb that was projected and the size it was yesterday. Nobody's going to be very dark have been people who use common sense has -- Karadzic the number of public assistance evacuations. That they have worked magnificently. With -- in the process that's in advance. So what she saw yesterday those hundreds of buses states that. Zephyr field which baseball field and then there were deployed out into wall -- the surrounding region including Jefferson. And you saw busloads of people thousands of Jeffersonian stretches that witch project got on these buses and laughed. And then of course many thousands got out awards. And -- as well these are encouraging signs these -- lessons learned. People reacted in advance proactively. Give out because they don't have the means to get out and that reduces death threat. Being trapped somewhere. You know as opposed to being evacuated and people would vehicles leaving early. And then leave and when the mandatory evacuations called you know ironically. This may be the flip flop of Katrina. I sort of facts -- this storm Katrina ended up being a storm that impacted. They -- areas that that you -- major downtown towards. Device -- New Orleans these. At least bank -- Jefferson parish but -- our shores Riddell. Parts of Mississippi Big East inside this storm. It and course the West Bank spoke to Berkeley. Did not have the major effects of the -- there was a lot of damage they didn't have the commensurate effects of Katrina had on the east bank stopped. This is strong that struck me all the West Bank areas West Bank to -- about the West Bank. All of the all the means that you be Algiers the West Bank suggests -- parish. And the river parishes so ironically. This could be a storm at the end of the day wherever it impacts were on opposite side of the Mississippi River. What southern Mississippi River and it's the east side. That might give Bob -- category two effects. As to whip -- that we would have damage it down power lines and trees down et cetera all that's all that significant. And it certainly damaging however. It would allow us to rebuild prickly. The east bank very quickly these bank could restore power so that we can be a building block to restore our West Bank south porch."

" Let me ask you this what one last question bring you into real time it is 511 here in new wing blamed for eleven where you are. The first bands have started to hit grand I'll be southernmost tip of your perished. Tell us what you are hearing I understand they have already lost power and I know I tried to reach out to the mayor and the -- the cell phones weren't working."

" It's statement from a value going to a great job there. Most of them they're like stance preparing for that don't build on most on a Saturday morning I mean they're doing everything they can do. -- to brace themselves. But they all the last inhabited barrier island. In Louisiana and there are always going to be to Qian that gets the first upper cut. And they just all like this this stalled. In particular really targets Randolph. All art and they have rebuilt so magnificently -- from Katrina. I mean they've they've been building homes have worked hundreds of thousands of dollars and they built them higher and better so. This storm is really detestable to psychology of that that community as well as the infrastructure that community. And we all we are all praying hard for them and the people who feet. We're going to get it next policy named after the famous art John defeat for those that -- equated but I history out here. That is the next very that's for the field the hardest and after the surge. And we waited to see I mean we we saw the slosh models for a category three. Move -- at fifty involved at all what I it's just about what we're looking at now from -- on the sure war. This slash models for the West Bank. Are not -- They're just not pretty so we have to hope these levees sustain themselves I do want offer good morning from our daughter. -- corral about husband Jason well who live in Jamaica plane to Boston at a -- of toward their prayers. Thank them for their crime you know crime -- commitment to keep called the nature dead still. Still around and -- them a beautiful day of Labor Day and I wish all the people doing one. A beautiful day give us some moment. Of your time today for your prayers. Pray for the wisdom of our elected officials that we make the right decision here and pray that god spares us there's much. Destruction response."

" Amber's -- Jefferson parish because I know you have been up around the clock we so appreciate your time this morning good luck with everything. We'll check back with you later in the day."

" January that calls you or very inspiring to -- the more I could -- Hundred apparently argued fiercely mollify out of Hollywood I have ever remembers that doesn't have present thank you again."