At least one Australian is refusing to evacuate New Orleans as Hurricane Gustav, described as "the mother of all storms", bears down on the city.
The southern US port city, and its famed Bourbon St where the drinks and parties flow 24 hours a day, is a popular stop for Australian tourists, but it appears most have heeded US and Australian government warnings to leave.
Gustav, currently a Category 3 storm with 205 kmh winds, is battering Cuba today after killing at least 81 people as it cut through the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.
Forecasters believe Gustav, feasting on the warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, could blow up to a Category 5 storm, the strongest designation on the scale, before it hits the US coastline tomorrow.
Australians were trapped in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city exactly three years ago, including nine young Australian backpackers trapped inside the Superdome indoor arena for a terrifying three nights.
New laws passed after the bureaucratic bungling of the Katrina disaster allow for all hotels in the city to forced shut, forcing tourists to leave.
Karen Bacharach, owner of the Creole Gardens Guesthouse, a favourite New Orleans hotel for Australian tourists, said she closed her premises yesterday.
"We have had a whole bunch of Australians, but all of the tourists have left," Bacharach, who is seeking refuge in Georgia with her nine cats and dogs, told AAP.
"All of the hotels have closed; it's against the law to stay open. The tourists either left via the airport or been bused out." It is believed most Australian expatriates who call Louisiana home have also left the city.
However, Victorian woman, Colleen Thomson, who is visiting the city, told the Herald-Sun newspaper she planned to bunker down in a guesthouse in New Orleans' French Quarter and ride out the hurricane.
"I am not being a daredevil and I feel very calm and well looked after, with police making multiple patrols, checking on the welfare of people around town," the 54-year-old told the newspaper.
New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin disagrees.
"This is the mother of all storms, and I'm not sure we've seen anything like it," Nagin warned. "This is the real deal. This is not a test.
"For everyone thinking they can ride this storm out, I have news for you: that will be one of the biggest mistakes you can make in your life." Louisiana officials estimate about 20,000 people will be evacuated from New Orleans, and one million from the state, before Gustav hits.
In 2005 Katrina killed 1,800 in New Orleans.
Australian foreign affairs minister Stephen Smith urged Australians in the hurricane zone -- which stretches from Texas in the west to Florida in the east -- to follow the advice of US authorities.
"Consult our travel advice and consult the US Hurricane Centre warnings, but most importantly follow advice of local authorities," Smith said yesterday.
"As we understand it, there are 12 parishes, or local areas, in Louisiana recommending or requiring evacuation." Locals are terrified. Bacharach said the damage to her hotel by Katrina had cost $US1 ($NZ1.43) million and she only completed the renovations last week.
"New Orleans is called The Big Easy because it used to be very cheap and easy to live here, but not anymore," Bacharach said.
"People are terrified because they're saying it will be worse than Katrina. We're just praying the town gets saved.
"Quite honestly, I don't think people have it in them to rebuild again." AAP rq
