About 30% of patients canceled appointments yesterday at a New Orleans Children's Health Project clinic because they had left the city or were making plans to leave in anticipation of Tropical Storm Gustav, the organization's mental health director tells USA TODAY's Marisol Bello.

"Many fear history will repeat itself," Donna Usner says. The project is a partnership between The Children's Health Fund and Tulane University.

"Many of our clients have evacuated in the face of a storm that has not hit the Gult yet," she says. "I think it's a bit premature, but considering what they went through last time, I can't discourage being prepared."