New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell came out of a briefing with her public safety command staff to address the people of New Orleans and made a dramatic statement:
“What we know, is today—right now—everyone has to make a decision: To leave voluntarily, which I am recommending—do that, prepare yourselves, if you’re going to leave you need to do that now. You need to make sure you are in a safe place now!” Cantrell continued. “If you’re staying you need to hunker down, we hope that’s in your home, but you need to be in a safe space.”
The Mayor warned residents that Hurricane Ida is not showing any signs of weakening. She said people need to prepare for driving rain, flooding, tropical force winds, and other potentially deadly nature driven hazards.
Because the storm is moving so quickly, New Orleans pivoted its response from evacuation to sheltering in place, now she said the storm is driving the city’s response to focus on post-storm activity.
But the message came back to either get busy leaving, or get busy sheltering.
