Mr. Mayor also fails to mention that he was supposed to order the mandatory evacuation of New Orleans a full 72 hrs. before the hurricane hit. NOT 24 hrs. He himself cost countless lives by adopting a wait and see attitude in the days before being hit.
http://www.weather.com/newscenter/specialreports/hurricanes/vulnerablecities/neworleans.html
Half of the 1 million people who live in the metro area evacuated as Georges drove toward the city, resulting in gridlock on the roads. Since Georges, city officials designed a plan that would provide a more orderly evacuation. It is to begin 72 hours before a storm hits, and end when the winds become too dangerous for motorists, according to Hijuelos.
The challenge will be convincing people to leave some three days before a hurricane makes landfall.
How many times during a typical hurricane season does a potentially dangerous storm come into the gulf? And, how accurate are typical landfall forecasts 72 hours before the fact? How many times a year would New Orleans be evacuated if this 72 hour plan were strictly enforced? Does anyone know?
Well, look at the bright side. Nagin did manage to get HIS family evacuated and is quite comfortable criticizing and second guessing efforts safely from Baton Rouge.