Nagin is in prison, where he belongs.
He did not have more advanced warning than anyone else about Katrina. and I’m not sure when his family evacuated, but I see no reason why his family should not have evacuated.
Even though I sit on some of the highest land in the city, I evacuated two days before the storm when there was a 33% chance Katrina would hit the city.
I made the right bet, but far too many people trusted the Corps of Engineers’ levees and did not evacuate.
They lost.
There was sufficient warning. I specifically recall President Bush waiting and waiting for the incompetent governor to declare an emergency so he could act with additional resources. As a Florida resident, we know several days before when we’re in the cone of probable landing. They had that. As you said, many bet against the warnings. The political infrastructure in the state and city also fell well short of acceptable preparation. Warnings were given, but it was later than it should have been and all hands were not on deck to support the evacuations.