I hope this news quote from an evacuee today isn't indicative of the New Orleans-area's preparedness-level (or lack of) as a whole: "I was in line at the bank for an hour and have been waiting for gas for 30 minutes...lines at gas stations stretched for blocks."

It's a mystery why otherwise intelligent people wait until the last possible moment to make even the most fundamental of preparations, e.g. full tank of gas, ample cash-on-hand, basic supplies – especially when it's been known for a couple of days that the area could be impacted.