It's hurricane season, and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is among the area's leaders urging people to get ready ahead of time.
"You need a plan, a personal plan," Nagin warned New Orleans residents during his State of the City speech last week, adding that people who need help evacuating can now get it: "Our seniors and others with special needs can sign up for our city-assisted evacuation plan by simply calling or dialing 3-1-1."
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin urges residents to prepare for hurricane season:
New Orleans Emergency Preparedness director Col. Jerry Sneed says personal hurricane plans better not include going to a shelter in New Orleans.
"There are no shelters in the city of New Orleans for a category three or higher storm," said Sneed. "We encourage all of our citizens, if they have a vehicle, know where they're going to go, know how they're going to go."
New Orleans Emergency Preparedness Director Col. Jerry Sneed on hurricane preparation:
Residents who can't leave town and find shelter on their own will go to one of seventeen designated bus stops, where RTA will take them to Union Passenger Terminal for either a bus or train ride to higher ground.
This season, the city will also help tourists get to the airport if there is an evacuation. During Hurricane Katrina, some visitors chose to ride the storm out in their hotel rooms. Hotels will not stay open for future hurricanes, so tourists will go either to Harrah's Casino or the Sheraton on Canal Street to be taken to Armstrong International Airport, where city officials say extra flights will be added to help get people out of town.
