why?

Because we need to. When the Citywide Assisted Evacuation Plan goes into effect, there are no shelters of last resort.  Thousands of city residents with no other means of leaving New Orleans rely on the CAEP to get them to safety.

Because we are the best to. We are New Orleans. These are our streets. These are our neighbors. When it comes to exploring our potential as a community, a mandatory evacuation highlights the power of us. Evacuteer.org mobilizes New Orleanians confident in their potential and willing to push their boundaries for the collective good. See who we are: meet four New Orleans evacuteers.

Because it’s the right thing to do. Some would say the summer of 2005 seems long ago. Evacuteers recognize that thousands of our neighbors feel like Hurricane Katrina happened yesterday.  We’ve come to our moment of now: ensure “never again” remains true.

The numbers. In 2008, 20,000 residents were processed and evacuated through the Union Passenger Terminal over a 35 hour period in the advance of Hurriane Gustav. What you didn’t see were nearly 300 volunteers–native and newly moved– tagging bags, handing out water, waving and well-wishing.

It may never happen. But if it does, we’ll be ready.

Won’t you join us?

Be here. New Orleans.

Listen to four 2009 evacuteers talk about what this mission means to them.

For a closer look at the New Orleans City Assisted Evacuation Plan, click here.