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...New Orleans officials told the Times-Picayune in July of this year that they would dedicate 64 city buses and 10 lift vans, as well as potentially school buses and Amtrak trains, to help people flee the city in the event of a serious hurricane threat. But they also acknowledged that would not meet the potential need.

According to the Louisiana Transit Resource Guide...New Orleans has 364 city buses in its fleet. Why officials did not plan to dedicate more buses to an evacuation effort was not explained to the Times-Picayune.

Instead, in July, public officials began videotaping messages for distribution by DVD warning residents to begin making their own advance plans for emergency evacuation in case of a hurricane. According to the Times-Picayune, the messages, which were to be released this September, informed New Orleans residents that they were to be largely responsible for their own safety.

I would include more of the article, but I'm not familiar with the copyright stuff. The link is below, yet again, you need to copy and paste it. Nice of them to prepare DVD's with evacuation information. I'm really beginning to wonder about the RTA, I have a link around here somewhere concerning a federal investigation into the money down there.

http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=2322

What follows is from a NOLA. Com article

KATRINA TAKES AIM
Sunday, August 28, 2005
By Bruce Nolan
Staff writer

(snip)

Nagin spokeswoman Tami Frazier stressed that the mayor does not want citizens to plan on staying in the Dome -- instead, they should make arrangements to leave the city if possible.

"We don't anticipate having to turn people away," Frazier said. "But (staying in the Dome) should not be a situation that you're counting on."

Nagin added, "No weapons, no large items, and bring small quantities of food for three or four days, to be safe."

The Regional Transit Authority will deploy 10 buses equipped with a special lift to help handicapped residents get to the Superdome this morning, RTA spokeswoman Rosalind Blanco Cook said.

Once at the Dome, residents' needs will be assessed. Those who are critically ill will be taken by ambulance to a medical facility in Baton Rouge, she said. Others will be brought to Baton Rouge in the paratransit buses.

Beginning at noon, as officials prepare to open the Dome as a shelter of last resort, the RTA will begin ferrying passengers to the facility from 12 locations around the city. Those locations are:

-- Arthur Monday Senior Citizens Center, 1111 Newton St.

-- E.J. Morris Senior Center, 1616 Caffin Ave.

-- Eleanor McMain Magnet Secondary School, 5712 S. Claiborne Ave.

-- Warren Easton Fundamental High School, 3019 Canal St.

-- Sylvanie F. Williams School, 3127 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

-- Israel Augustine Middle School, 425 S. Broad St.

-- Sarah T. Reed High School, 5316 Michoud Blvd.

-- Marion Abramson Senior High School, 5552 Read Blvd.

-- L.E. Rabouin Career Magnet School, 727 Carondelet St.

-- O. Perry Walker High School, 2832 Gen. Meyer Ave.

-- New Orleans Mission, 1130 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

-- William Frantz School, 3811 N. Galvez St.

Cook also said streetcar service on St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street will be replaced by buses in case power goes out.

Generally, RTA regular service will continue until the weather doesn't allow it or a curfew is imposed by city officials, she said.

(snip)

Without having to be told, The RTA went into action and followed plans it had been given and did what it was supposed to do.

Had the mayor thought more about the safety of the residents of his city then that of himself and his family(flown out on sunday to Baton Rouge) he could have sent the RTA and the Orleans Parish schools buses to Baton Rouge or elsewhere as well.