Sunday, September 04, 2005

Did Anyone Bother to Read the Plan?


Consider these sections of the City of New Orleans emergency plan, which you can read in its entirety by clicking on the title of this post:

Conduct of an actual evacuation will be the responsibility of the Mayor of New Orleans ...

The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas.

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.
* If warranted by scope of evacuation, implement additional service.

E. Louisiana National Guard
* Provide assistance as needed in accordance with current State guidelines.

Emergency shelter operations are the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Preparedness Shelter Coordinator.

The plan raises three questions:
  1. Were "all available resources" used in the evacuation?
  2. Why weren't food and water stockpiled at the Superdome?
  3. Was the Louisiana National Guard utilized from the git go?

Notice that the plan makes the Mayor responsible, not the President of the United States. Final question: Did Mayor Nagin blow it?

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