I've never liked Mayor Nagin, I didn't like the way that he and his staff handled Katrina. Instead of calling for mandatory evacuations in 2005, he was afraid the entertainment industry in N.O. would sue the city for running off their tourist. And, I've never liked "Ray Speak", baby. However, despite all the man's mistakes of Katrina, I have to say that I personally think he and his teams have done a stand-up job handling this event (I guess I can say the same for the other local, state and federal agencies thus far).
I saw the press conference where he said this was the "mother of all storms," and while I don't think a met would have quite gone that far... I think it was called for on his part because he has a very tough job of motivating a large city to clear out. And, he is acting on information that he likely received from Bill Read at the time (remember when he said this, Gustav was a Category 4 just south of Cuba, and NHC didn't think Cuba would have much effect on it at the time - so they were all thinking "probable category 5").
Of course there is that element of "crying wolf" and if or not people will listen up and act on his information the next time a storm is bearing down on the Gulf Coast - but as for this storm, I have to give him applause..and I never thought I would say that.
I just hope that a storm chaser(s) doesn't get pulled over by the police and accused of stealing (again) - because this time it sounds like it's state prison and general population instead of the city jail. Yikes!
