by Mona Pellerin

Created on: August 28, 2008

The most important lesson to be learned when facing dangerous hurricanes is that "timing is everything". I was living in Baton Rouge during Hurricane Katrina and I witnessed, first hand, the chaos relating to evacuations from that city when the reality of the storm and its enormous size seeped into people's mind. Last minute evacuation is precarious as routes out of New Orleans are limited to five with some of them over marshes or water making them quick to flood.

"There are five major routes used to evacuate the New Orleans metropolitan area: I-10 East, I-10 West, the Causeway (over Lake Pontchartrain), State Highway 61 North, and State Highway 1 North.
Three of these routes are over long stretches of water (the Causeway cuts directly across Lake Pontchartrain, I-10 East travels over the eastern end of the Lake, and I-10 West skirts the south edge of Lake Pontchartrain). The remaining routes, State Highway 61 North and State Highway 1, both have areas surrounded by marsh land and could be flooded by heavy rain or a storm surge from an approaching storm" http://members.aol.com/minnyminew/weather_hurricanes _evac.htm#evacroutes

Even though computer simulations and weather warnings told of the possibility of the New Orleans bowl filling with water, they were not heeded by leaders or the average citizen. We have enough history about hurricanes to know that the exact point of landfall is not always known. Anyone living in the cone area, should anticipate being in possible danger. In the 1950s, Audry took many lives because the storm took a quick turn and increased speed, barreling into Lousiana in the early morning hours. I remember being waked up at 2:00am to hurry for safe shelter as the winds were expected to reach over 100mph. Many people around Cameron were swept out of their homes by the storm surge and people were huddled in the attic of the courthouse due to high water. Only a few people ever considered evacuation from these lowlands.

Such as the case of Katrina. The lines of cars on I-10 filled with people trying to escape impending danger were moving at a snails pace. Many running out of gas and some breaking down or their cars overheating. It was total chaos. Of course, we know the story of those who had no way to evacuate as the pictures of horror began to unfold.

The preparation for this type of hurricane far outweighs the amount of disaster that occurs due to poor timing. Whether it's money or inconvenience for the moment, good judgment depends upon the

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