I wonder if Mayor Nagin and Gov Blanco suffer from the same affliction that seems to affect most people in that area:
"The hurricane will turn away from here".
Now there's the realization (prompted by Max Mayfield's conversation w/Gov Blanco) that it likely won't turn away and now they're scrambling to fix the situation.
I think you're right.
Maybe they should start taking the attitude of folks that don't often get hit with major snowstorms, often - but do the "prep" as soon as there is a prediction of a couple inches.