The President had to call the Mayor of NO and tell him to evacuate. Before then, all he and the governor did was twiddle their thumbs, that would be AFTER they got their own families out.
........
All the mayor did, was say he couldn't call for a full city evacuation and he was constantly asking his "lawyers" what to do, legal advise. End of story. LA's officials were and are woefully inept to lead an ant farm let alone a city or state.