More than one million people in the US state of Louisiana and neighbouring areas were without power as strong winds and rains produced by a weakened Hurricane Gustav lashed the area, but mostly spared New Orleans, which was devastated three years ago by Katrina.
Reports said that offshore oil facilities, which were closed ahead of the storm, escaped damage but around two million people who had fled in the face of the oncoming calamity were in doubt as to whether they would have houses to go back to.
The facilities provide about a quarter of the country's supplies. The storm has led to seven deaths in the US, with four people dead in traffic accidents while three from falling trees.
Even as Gustav was weakening, officials were