They were waiting for Greyhounds with DVD players, satellite TV and bathrooms..didn'tcha know that?? sarc/off
I just sent Rick an email as well...
Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2005
From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: New Orleans evacuation plan for "car-less"...
To: rick.casey@chron.com
In response to your 9/3/05 article "Is Katrina
whispering in our ears?", there was a plan to evacuate
the city (including the "car-less").
From N.O. city official website on Emergency
Preparedness (small excerpts below):
"II. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
Under the direction of the Mayor, the Office of
Emergency Preparedness will coordinate activities in
accordance with the Comprehensive Emergency Management
Plan to assure the coordination of training programs
for all planning, support, and response agencies.
Departments, authorities, agencies, municipalities,
and all private response organizations bear the
responsibility of ensuring their personnel are
sufficiently trained."
"D. Regional Transit Authority
* Supply transportation as needed in accordance with
the current Standard Operating Procedures.
* Place special vehicles on alert to be utilized if
needed.
* Position supervisors and dispatch evacuation buses."
Source:
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26
There were approximately 350 city buses and 400+
school buses. Assuming a reasonable capacity of 40
per bus and 750 buses, that translates into the
ability to transport 30,000 people per trip.
It appears the Mayor had a plan on paper, but there is
a catch...for whatever reason, he decided not to
implement it.
This also assumes people would get on the buses. Even
today, there are residents of New Orleans unwilling to
leave.
Sincerely,
Frank