The "plan" was always to "get drunk and screw" (with all due repect to Mr Buffett). There are so many people in NO who don't even OWN cars. There's just no way to evacuate a city the size of New Orleans. Not to mention everthing else between Baton Rouge and the coast. The prevailing thought in New Orleans is that if it can't be done, why worry about it. Afterwards, people will say "it can't happen again, we're safe now."
Dear lord.