A lttle bit of fact was that Nagin wasnt sure he had the legal authority to call it. As a part of an mandatory evac order was the abilty to seize private autos and buildings now I know since the Supreme Court's great case last month how we think of the govt doing that on this board. So the manadatory gave him more police powers to seize stuff but he couldnt arrest people and send them to baton rouge
What I would like to know is how are they going to force people to leave now? Does "martial law" give them the right to forceably remove people? It would seem bizarre that someone would want to stay, but if looting is going on, there might be those that want to loot and will try to stay in town?
Not living in an area where there have been calls of evacuation (either voluntary or mandatory), I am ignorant of the legal differences, especially in Louisiana. I do know that "mandatory" evacuations are often called in other states, and that there is typically no mention of a legal authority to seize private vehicles/property with those announcements.