Gay party, Southern Decadence, affected by Hurricane Gustav

'' LATEST UPDATE: AUGUST 31, 2008~2:45pm: All remaining SOUTHERN DECADENCE events have been cancelled. A mandatory evacuation is now in effect.
Only two clubs remain open including JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields Avenue, and the Phoenix, 941 Elysian Fields. They're serving ice cold cocktails and beer.''

Urgent notice from the Southern Decadence website. The New Orleans-based event is the largest gay party that occurs annually in the southern US, and it was expected to draw over one million participants. However, the possibility of a Category 4 or 5 Hurricane Gustav passing over Louisiana is quite high. And the city's Mayor, Ray Nagin, has called for a total evacuation in an attempt to avoid a tragedy similar to what happened 3 years ago with Hurricane Katrina. (Southern Decadence)

''We're open and we're expecting a huge night tonight with DJ Eddie Baez. We are making contingency plans behind the scenes to insure the safety of both our customers and employees, and will certainly close our doors responsibly in order to allow them a safe exit from the city when that time arrives.''

Johnny Chisholm, owner of OZ Nightclub and a circuit party promoter, speaking with JustCircuit magazine on Saturday morning. (Just Circuit)