And it could depend on the nature of the question. For example, using public transportation to get to work does not mean the respondent doesn't own a car - it just means that they don't use a car to get to work.
The simple fact behind the level of this disaster seems to be that somebody (namely, the mayor and staffers) should have read the disaster plans, realized that the walls were designed to protect from a Category 3 or less storm, and been prepared to get people out.
All the planning in the world does no good unless and until custodians of the public welfare are prepared and trained to implement the plans at minimum cost in lives, human welfare, and money.
The local government in New Orleans, and the state, failed to do what was needed to protect the citizens. Eventually, voters get the government they deserve.
Good points.
The posts #54 and #34 address the important issue of how demographics prove that there should have been enough busses to evacuate the people--it is clear from these facts that Mayor "Numnut" Nagin is the #1 cause for this tragedy. The people could have been evacuated--they had the bus system to do that, and the mayor could have used the police force to nip looting in the bud before it spread. There were plenty of city engineers, firemen, librarians, trash haulers, etc. to do the resuce work. The policemen SHOULD HAVE been doing the security work. This is Nagin's tragedy.