The View from inside the Coliseum shelter in Alexandira, Louisiana.

Christine Romans | BIO
CNN Correspondent

The people who endured long bus rides to shelters far from home to escape Gustav are ready to go home.

But now they have to wait, and the patience is wearing thin. So is the food and the plumbing.

In Alexandria, Louisiana, local Red Cross volunteer Herb Boykin left the Coliseum shelter last night only to be called back to calm the evacuees.

'We almost had a riot here last night.'

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Christine Romans
CNN Correspondent

Officials at the LSU AG Center shelter in Alexandria, LA just told the 2700 evacuees that the plumbing is not functioning. No showers or toilet flushing. Initial reaction is calm among evacuees, many of whom are bunking down for the night. Details from Dr. John Barnett, head of the facilities at this building:

1. Building is now on generator power 
2. Generator power is not reaching the plumbing system
3. No on site to fix it 
4. Porta Johns not practical now in high winds, maybe in a few hours 
5. another option to bus people to nearby college

Heavy winds and rain at the moment. Not much to do about it right now.

No panic. Just no plumbing and 2700 evacuees, and 600 volunteers and EMTs.

Christine Romans
CNN Correspondent

I'm heading north-northwest from Baton Rouge on the leading edge of the outer bands of Gustav.

Gusty and sporadic sideways winds. Roads are deserted.

Lines of 18-wheelers loaded with CAT bulldozers and backhoes heading toward New Orleans.

Also, dozens of trucks marked "wildlife agent" towing flat-bottom boats. I am headed to a mega-shelter where we will bunk down with evacuees.