Hurricane Gustav, the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season`s seventh named storm and third hurricane, formed August 25, 2008, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It rapidly strengthened to a tropical storm as it spun westward toward Hispaniola. Gustav`s first target was Haiti, which it devastated with heavy rain and wind. It weakened to a tropical storm after hitting Haiti, but then regained hurricane strength once over the warm Caribbean waters. Gustav increased in strength on August 29 to a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph. The powerful hurricane then slammed Cuba`s Isla de Juventud on August 30 with winds of 135 mph.

Hurricane Watches and Warnings were issued for the central Gulf coast as Gustav moved through the warm Gulf of Mexico. It weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane before coming ashore near Cocodrie, La., west of New Orleans. Gustav continued to produce strong winds and severe flooding in the Lower Mississippi Valley for the next several days, making it one of the worst hurricanes in the history of Baton Rouge, La. The threat of a major hurricane prompted officials in southeastern Louisiana to evacuate New Orleans and the surrounding parishes.

Although Gustav was not as strong as 2005`s Katrina, the hurricane still damaged the city, with some levees pushed to their limits by the storm. Fatalities numbered 138 from this storm, including 43 in the United States. Damage estimates are currently unknown, but are expected to be several billions of dollars.

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