New Orleans Hurricane Evacuation Plan

Abstract

Hurricanes are natural disasters with the potential to cause damage to property and lead to the loss of lives. The New Orleans government requires a preparedness plan that would outline the measures to be taken by the government in the event of a hurricane. The plan is especially important given that the city is vulnerable to such calamity and the levees plans are no longer effective. New Orleans is situated in a floodplain which makes it vulnerable to floods when a tropical cyclone hits the region. The levees further make the place more threatened because they have disrupted the deposit of silt from the River Mississippi making the place sink further in the era of rising sea level. It is evident from hurricane Katrina that government officials need to be conversant with disaster plans for successful evacuation. However, key limitations to the success of this measure include the lack of adequate public transport and the fact that some members of the community ignore the warnings. The Earth Systems Engineering and Management (ESEM) principles of continuous learning, resiliency, long-term investment and systems and artifacts are essential for building practical infrastructures that can withstand strong hurricanes. It is recommended that the New Orleans government engage public officials in disaster planning, ensure there is enough public transport for evacuating the citizens and create an effective plan for resilience.