The Failure of Ray Nagin

While the final death toll won't be known for weeks, maybe months, we do know for sure that it will be very high, probably making it the deadliest storm in American history. Most of those killed will be from drowning from the rising flood waters, others will (and have) succumbed to dehydration, disease, and starvation. Thousands of people remained in the city after the manditory evacuation, whether because they thought that they can ride out a Catergory 4 hurricane (with winds roughly equal to a F2 tornado), because they couldn't get out due to lack of transportation, or because they want to take advantage of the damage and loot the stores.

Of the three reasons for people staying, the second one can be resolved before the hurricane struck. New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin had almost 225 school buses that he could have used per the LA evac plan, including this part on page 13, 5th paragraph:

5. 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.

Why didn't Mayor Nagin use these buses to evac the citizens who couldn't leave? Better yet, why did Nagin wait until two days before the hurricane made landfall, where as Bush called for manditory evacuations five days before Katrina hit?

Mayor Nagin screwed up big time on this, and what does everyone have to say about this? Well, most on the left and Holywood/entertainers blame Bush for just about everything. Some have already laid down the race card. While there are people dying, the left has decided to make political hay out of this. Barely a week after the hurricane!

Mayor Nagin will be remembered as the one who didn't do enough to help the citizens of New Orleans.