New Orleans Evac Plan For Hurricane

[Anthony Orosco]

There will be a great storm after the Katrina storm as to who is to blame for the bad planning, the feds or the local NO authorities so I thought I would look into the matter myself as a member of my family was bashing the President and stated it's all his fault.

While the Pres. did admit the fed response was slow I believe we shall see that the local officials will bear the brunt of the blame, especially after I read a good portion of this evac plan.

I have not seen much of the "plans" plans placed into action.

http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26

Here are a few interesting paragraphs from the plan:

Certain hazards, such as a hurricane, provide some lead time for coordinating an evacuation. However, this can not be considered a certainty. Plus, the sheer size of an evacuation in response to an approaching hurricane creates the need for the use of community-wide warning resources, which cannot be limited to our City's geographical boundaries. Evacuation of major portions of our population, either in response to localized or citywide disasters, can only be accomplished if the citizens and visitors are kept informed of approaching threats on a timely schedule, and if they are notified of the need to evacuate in a timely and organized manner. If an evacuation order is issued without the mechanisms needed to disseminate the information to the affected persons, then we face the possibility of having large numbers of people either stranded and left to the mercy of a storm, or left in an area impacted by toxic materials.


The safe evacuation of threatened populations when endangered by a major catastrophic event is one of the principle reasons for developing a Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The thorough identification of at-risk populations, transportation and sheltering resources, evacuation routes and potential bottlenecks and choke points, and the establishment of the management team that will coordinate not only the evacuation but which will monitor and direct the sheltering and return of affected populations, are the primary tasks of evacuation planning. Due to the geography of New Orleans and the varying scales of potential disasters and their resulting emergency evacuations, different plans are in place for small-scale evacuations and for citywide relocations of whole populations.

Authority to issue evacuations of elements of the population is vested in the Mayor. By Executive Order, the chief elected official, the Mayor of the City of New Orleans, has the authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.

Evacuation procedures for special needs persons with either physical or mental handicaps, including registration of disabled persons, is covered in the SOP for Evacuation of Special Needs Persons.

Major population relocations resulting from an approaching hurricane or similar anticipated disaster, caused the City of New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness to develop a specific Hurricane Emergency Evacuation Standard Operating Procedures, which are appended to the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.


The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas. Those evacuated will be directed to temporary sheltering and feeding facilities as needed. When specific routes of progress are required, evacuees will be directed to those routes. Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves or who require specific life saving assistance. Additional personnel will be recruited to assist in evacuation procedures as needed.

Slow developing weather conditions (primarily hurricane) will create increased readiness culminating in an evacuation order 24 hours (12 daylight hours) prior to predicted landfall. Disabled vehicles and debris will be removed from highways so as not to impede evacuation. In local evacuations involving more than fifty (50) families (i.e. 50 single dwelling units), staging areas may be established at the closest available public area outside the threatened area. Upon arrival at the staging area, evacuees will be directed to the appropriate shelter facility. Evacuees will be encouraged to stay with friends or relatives in non-threatened areas whenever possible. Security measures will be employed to protect the evacuated area(s) in accordance with established procedures and situations.


As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness

The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.


Interested in others thoughts,
Anthony

[Scottwax]

Amazing this plan has not been mentioned much by the national media...NOT!

BTW, Anthony, some papers are running Calvin and Hobbes again. Old ones but who cares!

[Anthony Orosco]

Cool! I love that comic. I also miss the original Bloom County

Yeah this evac plan is very interesting. I believe that Governor Blanco is finished and Mayor Nagin could also because you know they will compare what he does with former New York mayor Guilliano (spelling?) and his handling of 9/11. He is the benchmark.

Anthony

[Mr. Clean]

First there will be plenty of opportunity to assess blame after the situation is stabilized. And there will be plenty of blame to go around. Just a few thoughts, and even more questions with many more questions to be asked.

In the order of responsibility --

The victims – It begins with personal responsibility. With the exception of the infirm or those of diminished mental capacity there is little excuse for anyone to be walking around “with only the clothes on my back”. There was sufficient warning that a small emergency kit should have been at the ready, which would have included clothes, water, snack food, toiletries, for each family member as well as flashlight/batteries, small portable radio/batteries, cash, check books, credit cards. I realize the poorest of the population might not have the financial items, but the clothes, water, food items should have been set aside. I can think of no valid excuse for walking around with nothing, especially those with children and babies.

Local government – Plans for mass transportation for those without their own means. Reportedly there were buses available that were never deployed. The mayor was awfully upset with Bush, but did he do everything that he and the local government could have/should have done?

State government – What has the governor done to help her own people? When was the call put in to deploy the National Guard? Why are more people not being relocated within the State of LA?

It seems that even with the best efforts from the three groups above, this disaster would have been more than they could have handled.

Federal government – What was cause for the delayed response by FEMA?

Under Secretary Brown has led Homeland Security’s response to more than 164 presidentially (sic) declared disasters and emergencies

What qualifies Michael Brown to lead an emergency response group?

Michael D. Brown was nominated by President George W. Bush as the first Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response in the newly created Department of Homeland Security in January 2003.

Previously, Mr. Brown served as FEMA's Deputy Director and the agency's General Counsel.

Prior to joining FEMA, Mr. Brown practiced law in Colorado and Oklahoma,

Why the delay in military response? Could it be that our resources have been overextended? When asked in Mississippi if there were enough National Guardsmen available. Bush replied “of course”. Local authorities did not share that opinion. News reports noted that out of @3,800 Guardsmen, @3,000 are deployed in Iraq. ***Disclaimer ***I can’t speak for those numbers, as I have been unable to confirm them myself. It does seem plausible however since the first Guardsmen to respond in Mississippi were from Michigan

For the Bush apologists out there, please take a breath and a seat. This person has proven more than up to the task of deflecting blame and denying responsibility. What I want to know is, what does he take responsibility for?

In response to Anthony O’s assertion that it is the liberals attacking Bush, I think that anyone who expects a leader to lead has to be asking the question where is this administration’s leadership in general and Bush’s in particular. The only thing that Bush has led is the number of days spent on vacation and spending the taxpayer’s money with abandon.

It is more than just the Democrats which are calling for the job of Michael Brown. Republican Senators Trent Lott expressed his opinion of the job FEMA’s leader through clinched teeth and jaws. Newt Gingrich has also been critical about the response time, and questioned our government's readiness for attacks by other than Mother Nature.

I like how Bush has characterized Mr. Brown’s performance as “good”. Compared to the job Bush is doing, I guess you could look at it that way.

And for Scottwax’s belief that there was just no where to deliver supplies, but in the water or through the roofs…What was wrong with some emergency supplies for the assembly point on I-10 where the people waited without food or water awaiting evacuation? There were places for supplies to be brought in.

The latest in Bush’s questionable actions, as he scrambles to recover after he realized that he was caught sitting on this thumbs…he is sending **** Cheney to the Gulf Coast. I’m certain that the population will raise their hands and loudly proclaim “We’re saved!”

[Scottwax]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clean

And for Scottwax’s belief that there was just no where to deliver supplies, but in the water or through the roofs…What was wrong with some emergency supplies for the assembly point on I-10 where the people waited without food or water awaiting evacuation? There were places for supplies to be brought in.

I didn't say they couldn't bring in supplies but that it wasn't an easy job due to 80% water coverage.

BTW, I notice you didn't mention that the congress and senate are also all on vacation. Besides, a Presidental vacation, whether it be Bush or Clinton, isn't like when you or I are on vacation. They still meet with their advisors, world leaders, etc while away from the White House.

[Mr. Clean]

Originally Posted by Scottwax

I didn't say they couldn't bring in supplies but that it wasn't an easy job due to 80% water coverage.

This is what you said...

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Not like we can drop pallets of food and water when most likely, they will land in germ infested water or crash through someone's roof.

Originally Posted by Scottwax

...a Presidental vacation, whether it be Bush or Clinton, isn't like when you or I are on vacation. They still meet with their advisors, world leaders, etc while away from the White House.

You just can't keep Clinton out of a conversation while trying to defend Bush.

FYI With still more than 3 years to go, GWB has spent 319 days at the ranch in Crawford (about 20%). Those days don't include weekends and holdidays spent at Camp David and Kennebunkport.

His latest retreat (@ 5 weeks) was the longest in over three decades. And, according to records of modern presidents, he will quickly pass the most prolific vacationer Ronald Reagan who spent @ 335 vacation days at his Santa Barbara ranch.

Since you are so obsessed with Clinton, it appears that he took @ 152 days during the span of his two terms.

The least vacation days spent? Carter with 79 days.

[Spilchy]

Originally Posted by Mr. Clean

The least vacation days spent? Carter with 79 days.

He should have taken more. Maybe then he wouldn't have butchered the job so badly. I don't blame Clinton for not vacationing - look at who he would have to spend time alone with. No wonder he would rather spend time in the Oval Office resorting to the likes of Monica Lewinsky. Talk about a pathetic, sham of a marriage.

I don't think Scott was "obessesing" with Clinton. He mentioned his name once.

If you want to talk about politicizing this tragedy, Democrats are having a field day. Wait until the inquiry and we'll see how utterly inept the NO and LA Democratically controlled governments were.

That's ok, just keep Howard Dean head of the DNC, Hillary Clinton on the '08 ticket and bring back Michael Moore to the Democratic Convention, and the Republicans will waltz into another 4 years in the White House. What a train wreck - they just don't get it.

[sQuashed]

Good post spilchy.

[Sullybob]

Great post.

How is mentioning that Clinton took a vacation also, obsessing with him?

[Mr. Clean]

I don't think Scott was "obessesing" with Clinton. He mentioned his name once.

How is mentioning that Clinton took a vacation also, obsessing with him?

The refererence dates before this post.

Why even the mention of Clinton? Heck, why not mention Reagan, or Lincoln, or even Washington? Those would all be just as relevant to the thread.

[jgv]

You talk about politics.......You should hear what the rest of the world says about how the great America deals with such a problem like this.

[Mr. Clean]

Originally Posted by jgv

You talk about politics.......You should hear what the rest of the world says about how the great America deals with such a problem like this.

I can only imagine. It is pretty pitiful. We can only hope that this opens the eyes of all of America who believe (or believed - past tense) that the we are prepared to answer the call in the event of an emergency. Wow! We have a whole new government money pit, called Homeland Security. If they can respond so quickly and effectively with a weeks advance notice, imagine what they can do without notice. Gee, I feel safer already. Pass the duct tape and saran wrap.