Preparing for Ivan a year ago, with mandatory evacuations

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They knew what the problems with New Orleans were. They've always known what the problems were. How dare the Bushies pretend that any of this was unexpected.

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20040914-044627-2894r.htm

New Orleans, LA, Sep. 14 (UPI) -- Hurricane Ivan appeared to aim at the middle of the heavily populated northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday, leading thousands of people to evacuate from flood-prone New Orleans all the way to the beaches of the Florida Panhandle.

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At the state emergency center, Lt. Kevin Cowan of the Louisiana National Guard said mandatory evacuations were ordered in low-lying Plaquemines and St. Charles parishes in southeast Louisiana. Four other parishes, including New Orleans, were under voluntary evacuation orders.

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New Orleans and much of southeast Louisiana is below sea level, so officials are extra cautious about an approaching hurricane. Floodgates and pumps are used to reduce flooding in the historic city in case of a major storm surge. "The heavy rains, the high winds, the tidal surge can inundate these low-lying areas, and that's why we are advising them to get out now," Cowan said.

Evacuation routes are also limited in the greater New Orleans area, so emergency officials attempt to get people out of the area well in advance of a major storm. About 1.3 million people live in the area and about 470,000 in the city.

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1. New Orleans was MANDATORY

I think there was only one parish that was voluntary and the reason it was voluntary is because they are required to set up shelters otherwise and I guess they had no shelters to set up. Also, the state evacuation plan calls for mandatory evacuations 30 hours out, so I don't even know what the "well in advance" stuff is referring to. This is what I read in the Times-Picayune which I trust a helluva lot more than the Moonie Times.