Louisiana EOP
It galls me when people start throwing around references to official documents without sufficient information to find the original. Being able to authenticate quotes like the following one getting thrown around the blogosphere is rather important:
Louisiana disaster plan, pg 13, para 5 , dated 01/00
‘The primary means of hurricane evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating’...
I’ve not been able to authenticate that. So far I’ve not been able to find an official document entitled “Louisiana Disaster Plan” at all. All I’ve been able to find so far is the State of Louisiana EOP.
(Since the original requires Microsoft Word, I’m also providing a PDF version as a public service.)
However, here’s a link to Annex I of the City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, which concerns hurricanes. “Transportation will be provided to those persons requiring public transportation from the area. (See Special Needs Transportation, ESF-1)” (CEMP Annex: Part 2, Section II, Paragraph 11)
Maybe there’s a good reason why local authorities left the city’s bus pool to be flooded rather than deploying it for the evacuation, but I’d sure like to know what it is.
Heck, I’d like to know why it took a phone call from the President (fourth paragraph) to get the Mayor to finally execute on what is listed as his very first responsibility under Part 2, Section V: order an evacuation.
The clearance times facing Orleans Parish for a severe hurricane will necessitate proper traffic control and early evacuating decision making. The evacuation must be completed before the arrival of gale force winds. Evacuation should also start when school is not in session and when there is at least eight (8) hours of daylight included in the evacuation time allowed. Provisions must be made for the removal of disabled vehicles. Flooding of roadways due to rainfall before a hurricane arrives could close off critical evacuation routes rendering evacuation impossible. (CEMP Annex: Part 2, Section IV, Subsection D, Paragraph 8)
To me, it looks like the state and local authorities had very good hurricane plans that they inexplicably barely executed on. However, I suggest you read the original documents yourself, see the quotes in context, and make up your own mind.