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The main roads out of New Orleans were packed on Sunday as residents heeded the mayor's warning to flee the city.

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People barricaded their homes and businesses as Hurricane Katrina approached.

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The 70,000-seat New Orleans Superdome has become a last-resort shelter for those unable to leave the city.

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Experts have been warning of a major storm for years. Mayor Ray Nagin said this was "a once in a lifetime event".

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The coastal town of Gulfport was hit as the hurricane made landfall on Monday morning.

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As the hurricane drew closer to New Orleans, the city looked bleak and desolate.

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There are fears that flood defences could be breached, exposing the city's historic French Quarter to a deluge.

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Canal Street was empty except for debris from fallen trees.

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The effects of the storm have also become apparent in the town of Lacombe.

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Nearby Lake Pontchartrain burst its banks, flooding a road - a sign of Katrina's destructive potential.