The center of Tropical Storm Gustav is pictured over the Caribbean Sea in this NOAA satellite image taken early August 29, 2008. Gustav, which strengthened back to a hurricane on Friday as it headed toward the Cayman Islands, was expected to build to a dangerous Category 3 storm by the time it hits land in the United States on Tuesday, U.S. emergency officials said.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Thousands fled New Orleans, La., Saturday as Hurricane Gustav bore down on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Cars packed with children, suitcases and pet carriers jammed roadways leading north and west out of the city, U.S. TV networks reported.

By the end of the day, city officials hoped to evacuate at least 30,000 people who lack transportation or are too sick or old to get out on their own.

Gustav, strengthening into a Category 5 storm, was south of Cuba Saturday.

The latest forecasts called for the storm to make landfall just west of New Orleans as early as Monday, but forecasters cautioned that Gustav could strike anywhere along the Gulf coast from Texas to Florida early next week.

Three years ago, the whole city of New Orleans was virtually wiped out by Hurricane Katrina, the worst natural disaster in the U.S. history.