I'm the token witness on this board (to my knowledge) of what happened with Katrina and Rita.
Don't throw stones. Can your community evacuate 80% of the population in 2 days? Despite all the news stories, 80% of the people in the New Orleans metro area did get out, with only 2 days of warning. We all thought the storm was going further east (Alabama/Florida state line). Wasn't until friday night that the weather forecasters put the storm track right towards N.O.

Trek is correct - those are the majority of reasons. Some people didn't have their own cars, and needed some sort of public transit to evacuate. There is now a plan on the books, and it has been tested with the Gustav evacuation, to turn your pets over to animal rescue (tagged) so humans go on one bus, and critters are hauled out safely.

Storm preparedness brochures published every season give information for what to do with your pets. Or to at least consider your pets. But if you're the neighborhood cat lady that feeds 20 cats - who do you take and who do you leave behind? Your heart is broken no matter what, because you know you can't take them all.

Most of us are snug in our own homes (rented or mortgaged), contemplate buying new fancy bikes, the latest biking kits, new biking toys; we aren't living on the margins and have a furry beast or two or three for companionship, scraping by as best as you can.

Evacuation costs $$ - gas to get out, food, lodging. Is there a plan in your community to evacuate in the event of a dissaster? What about the economically challenged?

I haven't seen the movie SmilingCat referred to, I think the animal rescue groups did a very commendable job rounding up stray animals, capturing the semi-feral dog packs, and feeding those left behind. They worked for months in that crazy place. I still "see" the muddy cockapoo trotting down the main drag in Chalmette, to be eventually caught by National Guard troops.

Monday morning quarterbacking what happened along the Gulf Coast is a very sore subject for me. If you're involved making plans for your community, make certain those plans include the poorer members of your community. "Only $10" is still a lot of money if you're scraping by. Are all the dogs and cats in your current community vaccinated NOW? I know the answer to that is "no."