Bullseye on the Big Easy

Although a lot can change in the hours left before the eye makes landfall (this hurricane is so huge that outer bands are nearly on shore now), it looks landfall will be somewhere around New Orleans. For the city between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain, this could be the worst-case scenario that has been predicted for years. Everyone who cannot evacuate has my prayers that they will be able to ride out the storm in whatever shelter they can find - the SuperDome is open for evacuees as of noon.

Speaking of evacuations, what is up with the elected officials in Louisiana? It has been said repeatedly that it takes 72 hours to evacuate New Orleans, but the mayor doesn't order mandatory evacuations until 24 hours to go until landfall!? The SuperDome isn't opened until noon for those who can't evacuate (no car, no gas, no money)!? Maybe some people are partying a little too hard down in the Big Easy.

And then there's this gem from the governor of Louisiana, Kathleen Blanco - "President Bush called and personally appealed for a mandatory evacuation for the low-lying city, which is prone to flooding."

Since when does it take personal intervention from the President of the United States to get the damned city to evacuate? Did Bush get elected mayor of New Orleans when we weren't looking? He's already declared the city a disaster area and the hurricane hasn't even hit yet. Does he need to go down there and personally direct city officials? (Maybe I should be careful saying that. There may be some Democrats who expect him to do exactly that.)

Yes, there will always be people who will refuse to evacuate. You'll hear "I've ridden out hurricanes before" or "It won't be as bad as they're claiming". That does not abrogate the responsibility of the elected officials of the city to 1)make sure everyone knows how bad this could possibly be and 2)to be sure arrangements are made for those who can't evacuate for whatever reason.