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How New Orleans' Evacuation Plan Fell Apart

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How New Orleans' Evacuation Plan Fell Apart

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NOAH ADAMS, host:

After Hurricane Katrina, around 100,000 people were trapped inside New Orleans, unable to escape for days. The evacuation plans for the city fell apart even before the storm hit, as NPR's Laura Sullivan reports.

LAURA SULLIVAN reporting:

New Orleans city officials had an emergency evacuation plan. For those with cars, head north. All freeway traffic would be one-way out of town. For those who couldn't get out on their own, Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell says city buses would pick them up.

Ms. CYNTHIA HEDGE-MORRELL (New Orleans City Council): We had stops throughout the city for people who did not have a means or a way, and they were advised to bring sleeping bags and three days of provision and water.

SULLIVAN: The plan says the buses would drive two hours north of the city, past a highway called I-12. But a day before the hurricane struck, the city veered from that plan. The roads were clogged with traffic from the million people evacuating on their own. So down at the city's Office of Emergency Preparedness, Councilwoman Hedge-Morrell says officials made a decision: Better avoid the traffic and send the people on the buses somewhere closer to wait out the storm.

Ms. HEDGE-MORRELL: What we figured at that point--the city made a decision--the Office of Emergency Preparedness made a decision that rather than try to get stuck in that traffic evacuating these people, they brought them to the Superdome. But the intention was that as soon as Katrina passed, they were going to bus them to shelters past I-12.

SULLIVAN: That decision quickly became a critical mistake and turned the Superdome, the city's shelter of last resort, into a refuge for everyone. Then after the storm, when the levees broke, thousands more came. And the city buses, meant to take them to proper shelters, were underwater.

But New Orleans officials weren't the only ones to miscalculate. Joe Donchess directs the Louisiana Nursing Home Association. Two days before the storm hit he told all the homes in the area to evacuate, but ultimately, he says, it's up to each home to decide for itself.

Mr. JOE DONCHESS (Director, Louisiana Nursing Home Association): Nursing homes have to more or less play God in deciding how are we going to be most--the most severely damaged? By evacuating people on buses? Or do we shelter in place, hoping that the storm will miss?

SULLIVAN: Only 15 nursing homes evacuated. Thirty-seven did not. Then there was FEMA. The federal agency waited until after the storm to arrange for buses. Sally Snead(ph) is an executive with Kerry Meetings & Events(ph), the country's largest transportation company. She says FEMA called at midnight on Monday, almost a full day after the storm, to ask for 200 buses.

Ms. SALLY SNEAD (Executive, Kerry Meetings & Events): That's what started the process, and then over the course of the next two days the numbers grew, you know, from 200 to 355 to 500, up to 1,100 buses.

SULLIVAN: Snead says finding 200 buses quickly is doable. Finding 1,100 is a challenge.

Ms. SNEAD: It takes a couple days; especially at last minute. I mean, it's one thing when you're planning an event, you know, where you're going to need, you know, hundreds of motor coaches. You typically--you've got months and months to get that done.

SULLIVAN: And then there was the state. After the storm hit, it sent hundreds of buses to a mall parking lot outside the city. The plan was to evacuate the overcrowded and now dangerous Superdome. Instead, bus drivers like Bill Yant(ph), who drove his bus down from Bossier Parish, sat and waited.

Mr. BILL YANT (Bus Driver): We could not, due to security, take those buses into where they wanted to go, 'cause the night had fallen and all rescue operations for buses were stopped at nightfall. So we were there, but we just couldn't get to where we needed to go.

SULLIVAN: David Bowman(ph) tried to help. Normally in charge of Workforce Development in the governor's office, Bowman suddenly found himself appointed bus organizer. He tried to find armored escorts for the buses, but the National Guard said they had none to spare. And without escorts, many drivers were too afraid to go into the city.

Mr. DAVID BOWMAN (Bus Organizer): We had a--you know, one group came by, dropped off their buses and said, you know, `We were told you need buses,' and I said, `Well, who's going to drive them?' And they said, `Not us.' So, you know, in some cases we just had buses with keys in them.

SULLIVAN: Violence after the storm was also a problem for Joe Donchess. As head of the Nursing Home Association, he was trying desperately to get buses to nursing homes across the city to rescue residents trapped without food, water or electricity.

Mr. YANT: In one case, we had buses travel through the middle of the night in Baton Rouge to get to the outskirts of New Orleans, only to hear gunfire and have to turn away.

SULLIVAN: Four days after the storm, more than a hundred nursing home residents had died of heat and dehydration. And it's still unknown how many others died waiting at the Superdome, the convention center and other areas were people were stranded. Eventually, a hundred thousand people were evacuated from New Orleans after the storm. They were taken to states all across the country. Now as Hurricane Rita approaches, some of those same people are being evacuated again. Laura Sullivan, NPR News, Washington.

ADAMS: More to come on DAY TO DAY from NPR News.

Copyright © 2005 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR's programming is the audio record.

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How New Orleans' Evacuation Plan Fell Apart

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NOAH ADAMS, host: After Hurricane Katrina, around 100,000 people were trapped inside New Orleans, unable to escape for days. The evacuation plans for the city fell apart even before the storm hit, as NPR's Laura Sullivan reports. LAURA SULLIVAN reporting: New Orleans city officials had an emergency evacuation plan.

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After Hurricane Katrina, a look at New Orleans’ uneven recovery among its neighborhoods

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Drive through the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods and you’ll be hard-pressed to find an unoccupied home, save for a few straggling properties being fixed up for sale in a super-hot

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Interactive Timeline of Flooding from Levee Breach

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Interactive Timeline of Flooding from Levee Breach

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Interactive graphic details timeline of flooding from Hurricane Katrina levee breaches in 2005:
Trouble seeing the graphic above? Click here
Editor's note: It's been nearly 10 years since I first visualized Hurricane Katrina's flooding throughout the New Orleans metro area in animated graphic form. The updated version above incorporates new research and additional reporting about the disaster, which allows for more precise timing of the levee breaches and a clearer representation of how the water moved throughout the city. And improved technology allows me to optimize the graphic for viewing on smartphones and tablets, devices that didn't exist when the original was produced. And this time around, photos are included.

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Anatomy of a flood: How New Orleans flooded during Hurricane Katrina

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Interactive graphic details timeline of flooding from Hurricane Katrina levee breaches in 2005: Trouble seeing the graphic above? Click here Editor's note: It's been nearly 10 years since I first visualized Hurricane Katrina's flooding throughout the New Orleans metro area in animated graphic form.

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New Orleans is a charmingly diverse city. That diversity is clearly expressed through the city's 17 wards. While the original purpose for the creation of the city's wards was political, they have been giving a cultural significance by residents.

New Orleans' vibrant hip hop and jazz music scenes began the tradition of identifying what ward in which the artist resides through song or hand gestures. You can still see this tradition of identification today at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. While a small number of residents believe this practice comes across as territorial and hostile, the majority of residents take solace and pride in the camaraderie of their fellow ward residents.

Because of the diversity of the wards, understanding their offerings will allow you to plan your next trip to New Orleans with the greatest of ease. After reading up on each ward, decide which suits your traveling style and book your hotel in New Orleans.

The 1st Ward is not, as you might expect, the oldest section of New Orleans. But, this area of Uptown New Orleans was urbanized in the early 19th century. This ward is flanked by the Mississippi River on the southern border, and Claiborne Avenue to the north. While this one of New Orleans' geographically smaller wards, it houses restaurants that serve up some seriously delicious cuisine.

If Mexican is more your forte, Casa Borrega cannot be missed (pictured above). The restaurant itself is housed in an 1892 Greek revival home completely renovated with recycled materials. Patrons rave about the atmosphere and the delicious Pico de Gallo.

Casa Borrega: 1719 Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard

The 2nd Ward is also bordered on the south by the Mississippi River, but is significantly larger than the 1st Ward. The riverfront which was previously the Old Warehouse District is now home to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Just a few blocks in from the banks you'll find a museum lover's heaven. Treat the kids to the Louisiana Children's Museum's plethora of interactive exhibits.

Or soak in the history and pay homage to our soldiers at The National WWII Museum. The museum's mission is to tell the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world.

As you travel north you'll find yourself in the 3rd Ward. Within this ward is the majority of New Orleans' business district and its seat of government. After Hurricane Katrina, much of the 3rd Ward was damaged, but is now seeing a rebirth.

It's tough to miss this wards largest resident, The Mercedes-Benz Superdome. If you're visiting during football season, a trip to a New Orleans Saints game will please any sports fanatic. Even if sports aren't your thing, the Superdome plays host to the biggest names in music, too.

The Mercedes-Benz Superdome: 1500 Sugar Bowl Drive

New Orleans' 4th Ward extends from Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River. It's also the perfect ward in which to begin a true New Orleans style good time. A trip to the city is not complete without a stop on Bourbon Street. Stop by the landmark saloon Old Absinthe House that serves one-of-a-kind absinthe cocktails in a quirky yet historic atmosphere.

While you'd expect to find stellar bars and clubs in this region, what you might not expect is the multitude of fine art galleries that call this ward home. A Gallery for Fine Photography is a large gallery with original prints that tell the story of New Orleans' history and culture. It's also home to Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adam masterpieces.

The 5th Ward is similar in shape and size to the 4th Ward; it also extends from Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River and is a part of the French Quarter. This ward contains the earliest and most famous portions of New Orleans. The Mississippi riverfront can be experienced to the fullest on a stroll down the Moonwalk.

The Moonwalk was named for former mayor Maurice "Moon" Landrieu and is the perfect location for a romantic sunset stroll. Visit the heart of the old French Quarter, Jackson Square (pictured above), and see a wide range of artists painting, drawing, and selling their works of art.

Considerably smaller than its neighbors, the 6th Ward is just 4 blocks wide and just under 40 blocks long. Even with its size, it's not short on must-see New Orleans attractions. Along the Mississippi River is the French Market. Since 1791, this open-air market boasts 6 blocks of shopping and is open daily.

Just one block away from the French Market is The Old U.S. Mint. The mint is the only one in the United States that has produced American and Confederate coinage. Over 100 years ago, the minting stopped and it wasn't until 1981 that they mint was designated as a State museum site. It still stands today as the Louisiana Historical Center and houses a jazz venue on its upper floors.

The 7th Ward is the second largest in New Orleans. It occupies a tiny portion of the Mississippi Riverfront, and the second largest amount of Lake Pontchartrain coastline. Occupying the majority of the Lake Pontchartrain shoreline is The University of New Orleans campus. In addition, this ward is home to the exciting New Orleans Fairgrounds.

Here, visitors can watch a horse race at the third oldest continuously operating thoroughbred racetrack in the United States, the Fair Grounds Race Course. A month after racing season ends, the fairgrounds host the yearly New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (pictured above). The festival has hosted legendary artists such as Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bob Dylan.

New Orleans Fairgrounds: 1751 Gentilly Boulevard

The majority of the 8th Ward remained under-developed until improved drainage systems were put into place at the beginning of the 20th century. Along the lake in this ward, the Pontchartrain Railroad ran for almost 100 years. Today, the ward houses landmarks like Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in the St. Roch neighborhood.

After visiting this historic church, travel just a few blocks to the Venusian Gardens (pictured above). The Gardens is another historic church, but converted into a fine art gallery that features luminous art and sculpture.

The 9th Ward is the largest of all of New Orleans' 17 Wards. The ward is so large it's separated into three distinct neighborhoods: the Lower 9th Ward, the Upper 9th Ward, and Eastern New Orleans.

The Lower 9th Ward was completely ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. While there were several years when the national spotlight shown on this neighborhood and help came in spades, it has unfortunately faded into obscurity once again. The Upper 9th Ward is the area "above" the canal and the Lower 9th Ward. In recent years, efforts through Habitat for Humanity and other philanthropic organizations have worked to improve the living conditions in this region.

If you're flying into the city, you'll may visit Eastern New Orleans first, as it is home to the Lakefront Airport. This neighborhood has seen the least urban development, and includes the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Rescue.

The 10th ward is rich in American history, as it is the former location of America's first foray into large-scale public housing, brought on by President Roosevelt's New Deal. While that is no longer standing, the ward has transformed into a blossoming community.

Several blocks away from the Mississippi River is the Eiffel Society that touts itself as a museum with a bar and a stage. The trendy club overlooks the street-car line on St. Charles Avenue through panoramic glass walls.

Eiffel Society: 2040 St Charles Avenue

Unlike the no longer standing housing projects in the 10th Ward, the 11th Ward is home to a number of them. The Ward itself includes sections of the Garden District and Irish Channel neighborhoods. The most visited landmark in the Ward is the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1.

If you're itching for a good scare or you just enjoy soaking in the spirits of days gone by, the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest of seven municipal, city-operated cemeteries in New Orleans. The Ward is also home to several art galleries, including Anton Haardt Gallery Inc. and The Neighborhood Gallery.

Although the majority of the 12th Ward was flooded after Hurricane Katrina, it has been given new life by several cultural additions. The Fine Arts Theater has been newly restored, but still maintains its historic charm. Currently, the venue features the Children's Dinner Theater once a month and each Sunday it features the Jazz and Gospel Brunch.

If your thirst for performance still isn't satisfied, check out historic music venue Tipitina's. The venue began as a neighborhood "juke joint" in 1977 and is dedicated to performer, composer, and pianist Henry Roeland Byrd (a.k.a. Professor Longhair).

Also badly flooded by Katrina, the small 13th Ward is still showing its persevering spirit. Like the 12th Ward, the 13th Ward is home to countless cultural gems. These include the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and several galleries.

If moving pictures excite you more, you can't miss the Prytania Theater. The theater was constructed circa-1914 and has just one screen. Prytania's single screen showcases new, classic, kids' and indie movies.

If you're looking for a bit of greenery within the bustling city, look no further than the 14th Ward. The site of the 1884 World's Fair is now the Audubon Park recreational area. Within the expansive park lies the Audubon Golf Course, Audubon Nature Institute, and Audubon Zoo.

If your visit brings you to New Orleans in the summer, a visit to the Whitney Young Pool will please all water-loving kids. Across the street from Audubon Park is Tulane University. Tulane's campus is a sprawling 110 acres of 14th Ward beauty.

Audubon Park: 6500 Magazine Street
Whitney Young Pool: 6500 Tea Room Drive
Tulane University: 6823 St Charles Avenue

The 15th Ward is only one along New Orleans' West Bank. Most commonly, the locals call this region Algiers instead of the 15th Ward. Algiers Point is New Orleans' second oldest neighborhood and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

If you need a break from the fast-paced French Quarter, Algiers Point's 19th century small town atmosphere will leave you wonderfully recharged. The neighborhood has seen great ups and downs throughout its history, including a devastating fire and high crime rates, but has risen as a premier historic village within New Orleans.

Locate: Algiers Point

The 16th Ward borders Tulane University in the 14th Ward. What this creates is a few dozen blocks of a truly viable college town. Maple Street runs through the ward and acts as the area's own mini main street. It's dotted with shops, bars, coffee shops, and restaurants.

Bruno's Tavern is a favorite bar in the neighborhood that draws the college crowds for its on-tap beers and delicious bar fare. Snake and Jake's Christmas Club Lounge is a legendary New Orleans dive bar that's open every single night of the year, even Christmas!

The 17th Ward is the upper-most ward of New Orleans that shares a boundary with Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. A visit to this ward isn't complete without stopping by the Longue Vue House and Gardens. The mansion is a classical revival mansion that is open to the public for free tours Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

In 1991, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2005. After you've visited the grand Longue Vue House, visit the Maple Leaf Bar for live music every night at a friendly dive bar.

As you explore New Orleans ward by ward, you'll not only uncover some of the oldest original history in America, but you'll also uncover new parts of yourself - for instance you may find yourself enjoying more jazz venues than you'd expected.

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Discover New Orleans ward by ward - IHG Travel Blog

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New Orleans is a charmingly diverse city. That diversity is clearly expressed through the city's 17 wards. While the original purpose for the creation of the city's wards was political, they have been giving a cultural significance by residents.

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