What if? This is a popular question that many don't like to think about, but one that many should.<br/>What if a tornado destroys our town?What if a tornado destroys our town?<br/>What if an ice storm causes a mass power outage?What if an ice storm causes a mass power outage?<br/>What if a wildfire rages through the city?What if a wildfire rages through the city?<br/>What if a hurricane strikes again?What if a hurricane strikes again?
What if a tornado destroys our town?
What if an ice storm causes a mass power outage?
What if a wildfire rages through the city?
What if a hurricane strikes again?

The last “What if?” is what New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was thinking as Hurricane Gustav headed toward New Orleans just three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

Because of this question, though, and the nightmare that continues to haunt the minds of many of the city’s residents, Nagin was able to answer that question, and in a very successful fashion.

Nagin took a step as news surfaced that another natural disaster was heading his way to try and prevent the damage that took many homes and lives from happening again – he ordered an evacuation of the city. This is a plan that all cities and people, for that matter, should think about.

Obviously, here in Kansas we don’t have to worry about hurricanes, but there are those instances, outside of weather, where an evacuation may be pertinent.

In California they have wildfires, but do they have an evacuation plan?

Many towns throughout the United States have major flooding, but what if it were to get so bad that people had to leave their homes? Do those towns have an evacuation plan?

What if an earthquake destroys a city? Is there an evacuation plan?

It's questions like these that the nation, as a whole, should be thinking about.<br/>The precautions Nagin took to ensure the safety of his citizens is one that should be noted. All cities, states and people in general should start asking themselves, "What if?"The precautions Nagin took to ensure the safety of his citizens is one that should be noted. All cities, states and people in general should start asking themselves, "What if?"
The precautions Nagin took to ensure the safety of his citizens is one that should be noted. All cities, states and people in general should start asking themselves, “What if?”

Because of that question, Nagin was able to save thousands from reliving a traumatic experience.

Obviously it’s not possible to make every resident evacuate, and that’s okay. Nagin’s statement that those who didn’t evacuate wouldn’t receive help was what he had to do. It’s not realistic to think that everyone’s going to do what’s best for him or her, but at least they had that option.

Nagin’s leadership abilities shone through as he prepared for what was projected as another possible Katrina. But it makes you wonder what other city leaders would do in the same situation. Are they as prepared?

He had a plan. Do you?