What the hell is the point of even having such a thing as “mandatory evacuations,” if you’re not going to order them right now (or better yet, about 24 hours ago) for New Orleans, Gulfport and Biloxi?!? Don’t the officials down there get it?!? ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE HURRICANES IN RECORDED HISTORY IS 24 HOURS AWAY FROM QUITE POSSIBLY DESTROYING THEIR CITIES!!!
If it’s not appropriate to order a mandatory evacuation now, when would it ever be appropriate to do so?!? A huge, still-strengthening Category 5 hurricane… a high-confidence forecast track… an extremely vulnerable, densely populated area in the very center of the track… bottom line, this is nuts!!! Hundreds or perhaps thousands of people are going to die because their local officials inexplicably refuse to pull the trigger and tell them they have to get out!!!
The Mayor Of NO is claiming that a mandatory Evac order is fruitless as they don’t have the manpower to enforce it nor the vehicles to take the people to safety.
This of course is possibly the biggest CYA statement I’ve ever heard.
We all know that there are always people who will stay simply because their not being ordered to leave. As soon as the order is broadcast over the media they leave.
It’s obvious that the powers that be have screwed up and their now trying to do preemptive damage control.
We all know that there are always people who will stay simply because their not being ordered to leave. As soon as the order is broadcast over the media they leave.
Just a quick comment - my brother is essential personnel at a hospital in N.O. and as such must stay - he and his wife are worried but can’t leave.
While I agree that Nagin was late in ordering the evac, he CAN’T - the contra-flow arrangement has to be enforced.
In order for all lanes of all highways to flow out of the city (the only way to completely run evac), the outer suburbs in concentric circles from the CBD of New Orleans MUST be evacuated first - if N.O. were to give mass evac. orders, it would be a parking lot as they hit outer rings of bordering traffic as neighboring areas (Kenner Metairie, Slidell) all scrambled out of the state.
The contra-flow arrangement spells out these details amongst the neighboring communities.
I think they should have put the plan in place much earlier, but mass evac. ain’t exactly an easy thing.
I don’t know that it’s as much CYA as you think - I’m from Louisiana and there are die-hards…the Nat’l Guard could show up to forcibly remove these folks and they would go with a fight.
Can someone explain why bars in New Orleans were open last night so stupid tourists would dawdle around town and find themslves unable to evacuate when they came to this morning.
Can someone explain why bars in New Orleans were open last night so stupid tourists would dawdle around town and find themslves unable to evacuate when they came to this morning
Because Mayor Nagin was listening to advice like Greg’s, above, instead of doing what was obviously necessary and ordering everyone out yesterday morning (or yesterday afternoon, if necessary to let the outer parishes get out first, but certainly before night fell yesterday). That’s why.
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August 28th, 2005 at 9:27:47 am
The Mayor Of NO is claiming that a mandatory Evac order is fruitless as they don’t have the manpower to enforce it nor the vehicles to take the people to safety.
This of course is possibly the biggest CYA statement I’ve ever heard.
We all know that there are always people who will stay simply because their not being ordered to leave. As soon as the order is broadcast over the media they leave.
It’s obvious that the powers that be have screwed up and their now trying to do preemptive damage control.
August 28th, 2005 at 9:31:48 am
We all know that there are always people who will stay simply because their not being ordered to leave. As soon as the order is broadcast over the media they leave.
Exactly.
August 28th, 2005 at 9:32:47 am
P.S. What’s your source for “they mayor is claiming” etc.? That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Trying to find a news article now.
August 28th, 2005 at 11:50:26 am
Just a quick comment - my brother is essential personnel at a hospital in N.O. and as such must stay - he and his wife are worried but can’t leave.
While I agree that Nagin was late in ordering the evac, he CAN’T - the contra-flow arrangement has to be enforced.
In order for all lanes of all highways to flow out of the city (the only way to completely run evac), the outer suburbs in concentric circles from the CBD of New Orleans MUST be evacuated first - if N.O. were to give mass evac. orders, it would be a parking lot as they hit outer rings of bordering traffic as neighboring areas (Kenner Metairie, Slidell) all scrambled out of the state.
The contra-flow arrangement spells out these details amongst the neighboring communities.
I think they should have put the plan in place much earlier, but mass evac. ain’t exactly an easy thing.
I don’t know that it’s as much CYA as you think - I’m from Louisiana and there are die-hards…the Nat’l Guard could show up to forcibly remove these folks and they would go with a fight.
August 28th, 2005 at 1:03:24 pm
Can someone explain why bars in New Orleans were open last night so stupid tourists would dawdle around town and find themslves unable to evacuate when they came to this morning.
August 28th, 2005 at 5:24:49 pm
Can someone explain why bars in New Orleans were open last night so stupid tourists would dawdle around town and find themslves unable to evacuate when they came to this morning
Because Mayor Nagin was listening to advice like Greg’s, above, instead of doing what was obviously necessary and ordering everyone out yesterday morning (or yesterday afternoon, if necessary to let the outer parishes get out first, but certainly before night fell yesterday). That’s why.