Homeland
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff became aware that the New Orleans causing the previously contained water to flood
the land behind could
not be plugged. Governor Blanco ordered that all of New Orleans, including the
Superdome, be evacuated due to the flooding of the city. She commandeered
hundreds of buses from across Louisiana using her executive powers, and those
buses eventually evacuated more than 15,000 people that were stranded in the
city to the Superdome by Thursday, September 1. There were also many instances
of reported looting. Governor Blanco also said that she will request President
Bush send federal troops to in New Orleans. 9,668
Army National Guard and 956 Air National Guard were deployed (10,624 total), and helicopters rescue 350 people off roof tops.