Evacuating Ain't So Easy

City and State officials in Louisiana have been taking incredible heat for their perceived lack of effectiveness in evacuating New Orleans before Katrina. Yet, despite 48 hours less notice they evacuated 80% of the population, and provided shelters for others (however squalid). The long traffic jams and gas shortages in Houston shows how difficult it really is to evacuate a major metropolitan area, even with plenty of warning. It bascically cannot be done.

New Orleans had a sophisticated evacuation plan, and its populace were well prepared and educated. The plan worked well by comparison to what is going on in Houston--despite the media (and dare I say Federal) scrutiny in face of Rita.

This just proves the New Orleans and Louisiana officials were as prepared as possible before Katrina. The Bush spin machine will have to lay off Nagin and Blanco now, shifting the focus from the preparation and evacuation to the paucity of the response.