Confusion on the Buses

Despite many news articles that demonstrate the use of RTA and school buses wasn’t practical or planned for the general population the meme continues.

The problem is that no one is looking at the actual language used in the New Orleans Comprehensive Hurricane Plan

The use of travel-trailers, campers, motorcycles, bicycles, etc., during the evacuation will be allowed so long as the situation permits it. Public information broadcasts will include any prohibitions on their use. Transportation will be provided to those persons requiring public transportation from the area. (See Special Needs Transportation, ESF-1). An orderly return to the evacuated areas will be provided after the Mayor determines the threat to be terminated. Transportation back to the evacuated area after threat termination will be provided as available.

ESF-1 is Emergency Support Function 1 which is nationally used to desginate the function of transportation in emergency planning. In this case it is referring to those who are physically limited.

Looking at the Special Needs Shelter

City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

I. PURPOSE

The shelter is intended for individuals who have no other resources and who need assistance that cannot be guaranteed in a regular shelter, i.e. medication that requires refrigeration, oxygen equipment, etc.The Special Needs Shelter (SNS) will only be activated by the Mayor of New Orleans or his designee.Entrance into the SNS does not relieve any individual of the responsibility for their own care.Admission into the Shelter is NOT TO BE INTERPRETED AS A GUARANTEE OF SAFETY, and the City of New Orleans is not assuring anyone protection from harm within the facilities that are being offered or opened for this purpose.

It is critical that everyone understands that this shelter will not be able to substitute for the comforts of the individuals’ homes, and that all equipment and special furniture, which are normally used, may not be able to accompany them.It is recommended that all persons with special medical needs and/or their responsible family members develop a viable plan for transportation out of the community to a community that will be able to give long term assistance.The potential exists that New Orleans could be without sufficient supplies to meet the needs of persons with special considerations, and there is significant risk being taken by those individuals who decide to remain in these refuges of last resort.The plan is intended to identify the mechanics of establishing a SNS and when it shall be activated.

And it’s fairly restrictive on who can go to them:

The population for the shelters established in the New Orleans area will be considered those individuals without the resources to evacuate.Persons who will be entering the SNS shall meet the following criteria:

1.Are able to provide their own basic care but have a chronic, debilitating medical condition requiring intermittent or occasional assistance.

2.Are dependent on intermittent electricity / generator power for necessary medical treatments or maintenance of medication, such as respiratory treatments, pump feedings etc.Note:This does not include continuous electrical needs such as ventilators.

3.Are not acutely ill.

4.Have been triaged by Shelter Staff to assure that the individual does meet the criteria and is a candidate for services which can be provided and assisted in this area, and sign a form acknowledging that there cannot be any guarantee of safety.

5.Are not in the third trimester of a high-risk pregnancy.

It is not appropriate to admit individuals to this shelter who require constant care or who require constant electricity to support machines necessary to maintain their life.Dialysis will not be available.Persons who are acutely ill will be evaluated and referred to local hospitals for definitive care.On a daily basis, every person with a chronic medical problem should have a viable plan that has been discussed with their primary physician so that when a disaster occurs, they will have an action plan established which can be put into effect.

To make this very clear the point is to provide transportation to those with mobility concerns. The State plan suggest using school and municipal buses as well, but from articles during planning that is clearly contingent upon finding drivers. Regardless, for years it’s been known that many people would never be able to get out because there isn’t the infrastructure nor the ability to pull people out of their homes early enough to pull that off. The entire line of attack on the local officials ignores the document itself as well as the actual reporting on the plan done in the past.

In fact, a 1994 Times-Picayune story said this:

Mr. Sheets cautions, “There’s no way you’re going to get the great majority of people out of New Orleans in the amount of warning time we will be providing.” He says it can take 72 hours to evacuate the metropolitan area, and forecasters cannot predict a hurricane’s landfall that far in advance. “There are 100,000 people in New Orleans who don’t even have vehicles,” he added, “so you’d have to provide the means to get them out as well.”

In this case, there was about 71 hours and the in the City itself, between 70 and 80% did get out.