Based on the study and partial posting of the NOAA archive of Katrina, I don't agree that Thursday was a reasonable time to start evacuating hospitals. The earliest I see the NOAA issuing a Hurricane watch for NO is 10AM Sat, CDT. So, tha''s the first objective basis upon which any local authority could have initiated the admittedly drastic action of moving hospital patients. Nonetheless, it was enough time to take action and get critical patients moved before Katrina struck in force a day and a half later. For that matter, it was also enough time to stage the idle portion of the bus fleet on a high ground path pointed out of town, coordinate a plan to open both sides of the interstate as soon as needed, rally the cops, etc. They should add other official terms, such as "GET THE HECK OUT ITS GOING TO KILL YOU" to their reports. To a layman, a "hurricane watch" sounds like people looking at one.