August 28, 2008 Day shy of Katrina anniversary, New Orleans preps for worst Play video

(NECN/ABC) - Tropical Storm Gustav is almost Hurricane Gustav, as it bears down on Jamaica and the Cayman islands. Already Haiti and the Dominican Republic have felt its deadly power. Ahead of the storm, New Orleans is keeping a nervous watch. Off-shore oil workers are evacuating their platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, and the tourists are heading home.

Gustav surprised forecasters overnight by changing direction. Until Wednesday night Jamaica thought they would not be in the storm's track - by Thursday morning it became clear that Gustav was heading right for them.

The wind and rain are pounding Jamaica already and we can feel the storm picking up strength - these beaches were full of tourists yesterday, but today most people are sheltering inside their hotels.

Jamaica's prime minister said his country had to take precautions.

"We just have to be careful because we know from recent experience that the damage that can be done and the suffering that can be caused is so great."

Gustav has already killed 23 people on Haiti and the Dominican Republic and caused widespread damage with 90 mph winds and heavy rain. Although it lost some wind speed over land in Haiti, Gustav was picking up force again once it was out over the warm waters east of Jamaica.

Forecasters say Gustav could strengthen to a category 3 hurricane before it hits the the Gulf Coast of the US. They don't know where it will make landfall - anywhere between the Florida panhandle

and Texas - but concern is highest in New Orleans, where memories are still fresh of Hurricane Katrina's devastating effects three years ago. The state of Louisiana already has an emergency evacuation plan in place.

Governor Bobby Jindal, Louisiana:

"I want to emphasise to our families out there, the state is doing everything we can to be prepared. They need to be prepared as well."

Nobody knows where Gustav is headed, but if it approaches New Orleans, this time round nobody wants to be caught unawares.

Terry McCarthy, ABC News, Montego Bay Jamaica.