Brave Briton defies US evacuation order
A Briton who runs a pub in New Orleans said he will defy the mayor's order to evacuate the city as Hurricane Gustav thundered towards the Gulf Coast.
Mayor Ray Nagin urged residents to flee "the mother of all storms", but the owner of the Crown and Anchor pub in the Algiers Point area of New Orleans plans to stay behind to defend his business which was looted in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina three years ago.
James, who declined to give his surname, told the Press Association: "I will probably stay until someone with a rifle and uniform shows up. I am staying here because of what happened to my pub when Katrina rolled in - looting and mindless destruction."
The Crown & Anchor is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
James, who left Putney, south-west London, for New Orleans 18 years ago, said a number of Algiers Point residents were planning to ignore the mandatory evacuation order.
The 38-year-old said: "This neighbourhood is like a small village. The families with small children have already left, but I know there are at least 20 of us planning to stay on. My house is at the back of the pub and I am probably going to stay there. The general consensus here is (the Mayor) is covering his back after the colossal muck-up over Katrina."
It is a fine line with natural disasters. Stay to protect what is yours or leave it. Many people lose there things to looters more so than nature.
I think the natives know best what to do. If he's been there 18 years and runs a successful business I am sure he has a head on his shoulders enough to know when to throw in the towel.
Our lager,
Which art in barrels,
Hallowed be thy drink,
Thy will be drunk,
(I will be drunk),
At home as I am in the tavern.
Give us this day our foamy head,
And forgive us our spillages,
As we forgive those who spill against us,
and lead us not to incarceration,
But deliver us from hangovers,
For thine is the beer,
The bitter and the lager,
Forever and ever,
Barmen.
"Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day." Melody Beattie
well, I haven'te seen the news today yet, but I bet there was considerable destruction.