[syriacus]

Unfortunately, that's because the answer is "walk", and if you can't, you have a huge problem. The buses and trucks are taking people out of the Superdome and other shelters, the people who didn't seek shelter will have to come later.

Why didn't New Orleans city housing codes require lifeboats so residents could escape danger? Lots of cities require fire escapes.

Why didn't Dan Rather do a report on New Orleans's precarious position in this time of increased hurricane activity?

New Orleans Geography

The levee system that has been built along the river, coupled with the canal system to keep the interior of the city dry, prevent the land from being replenished by the annual spring floods. As a result, the land will continue to sink until eventually there will be nothing to stop the waters of the Gulf to rush back upon the fragile land.

You can't fool Mother Nature

[finnman69]

Not a bad idea. But realistically if New Orleans had been hit directly by the hurricane, they would be evacuating 5,000 people, not 100,000.

The only real lifeboat is to get out of the city.