Gunfire Causes Suspension of Superdome Evacucation

Gunshots were fired at a military helicopter evacuating survivors of Hurricane Katrina for the New Orleans Superdome just before day break Thursday morning. Officials immediately announced that the evacuation of the football stadium will be halted until the situation on the ground is under control.

'We have suspended operations until they gain control of the Superdome,' said Richard Zeuschlag, head of Acadian Ambulance told the Associated Press.

The National Guard was sending in 100 troops to control the area but Zeuschlag said that would not suffice.

'That's not enough,' Zeuschlag explained to reporters. 'We need a thousand.'

Zeuschlag also said that a medical evacuation helicopter trying to land on the roof of a hospital in Kenner, Louisiana would not land because some of the 100 or so people on the roof had guns.

'He was frightened and would not land,' Zeuschlag said.

No estimates were given by officials as to when order could be restored and the successful evacuation of survivors from New Orleans could resume.