City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

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

SNIP

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.

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.

The plan also discusses exactly how to conduct an evacuation of the city. For example, Section III-B-V lists the tasks assigned to the various city government offices in the event of a hurricane catastrophe. The Mayor has three tasks:

(1) to initiate the evacuation, (2) to retain overall control of the emergency operation, and (3) to authorize a return to the evacuated areas.

The plan indicates that that city's Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) reports to the mayor and must coordinate with the NOPD, the state OEP, and the regional transit authorities to:

Supply transportation as needed in accordance with the current Standard Operating Procedures.

Place special vehicles on alert to be utilized if needed.

Position supervisors and dispatch evacuation buses.

Thanks, Softee, for posting this little item. So they had a plan, did they? I am a little surprised! It sounds from the news media that the Mayor of New Orleans had a much simpler plan. Have everybody run to the Superdome and wait for the Feds to come and save them in 24 hours or less.

I am sure that the media folks are enjoying this grand opportunity to bash the Bush administration, something pitifully easy to do, thus shoring up the general impression that the American people are to think of themselves as residents of a large day-care center operated by the government in Washington. Our nation is built from the bottom up, however, and the officials of the city, the parishes, and the state of Louisiana had a duty to their citizens which apparently they chose to neglect until it was too late.

History should have taught the people of New Orleans that they needed to be much more alert, much better prepared, to face what was sure to happen one day. There is nothing unpredictable about what happened there, and nothing unprecented, except perhaps the magnitude and duration of the storm.

My heart goes out to all who are suffering, and we should all pitch in to help them. But I do hope that the people of New Orleans will in the future insist that their elected officials take measures to prepare and plan, and to act for the safety of human life.

philorchites (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 07, 2005 6:11 am Thanks, Softee, for posting this little item. So they had a plan, did they? I am a little surprised! It sounds from the news media that the Mayor of New Orleans had a much simpler plan. Have everybody run to the Superdome and wait for the Feds to come and save them in 24 hours or less.

I am sure that the media folks are enjoying this grand opportunity to bash the Bush administration, something pitifully easy to do, thus shoring up the general impression that the American people are to think of themselves as residents of a large day-care center operated by the government in Washington. Our nation is built from the bottom up, however, and the officials of the city, the parishes, and the state of Louisiana had a duty to their citizens which apparently they chose to neglect until it was too late.

History should have taught the people of New Orleans that they needed to be much more alert, much better prepared, to face what was sure to happen one day. There is nothing unpredictable about what happened there, and nothing unprecented, except perhaps the magnitude and duration of the storm.

My heart goes out to all who are suffering, and we should all pitch in to help them. But I do hope that the people of New Orleans will in the future insist that their elected officials take measures to prepare and plan, and to act for the safety of human life.

Dear philorchites,

I know that you are not exactly a socialist, but even with your expressed feelings, I would thank you that you could show some consideration for the poor and disabled.

Therefore, America being the only superpower left in the world, and in light of it's vast wealth, I would think that the government could have at least considered the plight of our poorest folk as you are and plan a little better then they did in the New Orleans disaster.

Have a heart, my friends. Give a little. It is only money, and it can do so much good for these needy folk now...

A-1

Again, it has been known for decades that New Orleans was a major disaster that was going to happen. We just didn't know when. Politicians in a position to take pre-emptive action simply passed the buck to the next mayor and next governor.

We are going to see worse in the future. It is only a matter of time before there is a biologic or nuclear attack by terrorists. Is anyone taking action to be prepared? Are people sticking their heads in the sand and thinking only good thoughts?

Sadly, the answer is yes.

Even I was surprised at how quickly the situation devolved into anarchy.

Civilisation is as fragile as smoke.

Prepare NOW in times of plenty so that you will be ready when things get rough.

Taylor,

These are several efforts to reply to your post.

I appreciate your observations.

From second and first hand reports, order did persist over anarchy. Awful conduct did happen. Yet, order pervaded.

One note is that racism runs a two-way street of mistrust and bitterness. Rich and poor suffered. Having a credit card or cash did sometimes make a difference. Sometimes it did not. Most people did not riot. Some residents of wealthy neighborhoods looted their neighbor’s homes.

Thank you for your post. The more I hear from first and second-hand accounts, the more I think that we simply had no second city of refuge and no means of transportation to get people to such a place if it had existed.

Thank you for your post and wisdom. At this moment, I am not certain what we ought to have done. The problems seem deep and systemic just as you suggest. Decisions made long ago had effects last week.