"And it's truly naive to expect local buses to move 1/3 of the city in less than 48 hours. Even assuming that everyone was standing and waiting at bus stations with important medicines and papers in hand."
Why is it that you who discount bussing people out of harms way as a viable option, which is part of the mandatory evacuation plan for New Oleans by the way, seem to think that unless total success is to be had, it's a bad idea?
Total success is inconceivable. I disagree with the idealistically hopeful numbers that people imagine could have been off better under the circumstances. There are simply too many management steps and countless difficulties.