December 9, 2005

Katrina and Tulane: a Timeline

By JOHN LAWSON

Thursday, August 25: There were rumors that Katrina might hit New Orleans, but it looked like she was going to avoid us and go to the Florida Panhandle. I sent an e-mail message to my staff saying, Let's pay attention to this storm. But Saturday was the day new students were to move in. I didn't want staff members, who were going to be in dorm rooms helping students connect, to spread rumors about the storm that weren't true. I wanted to warn them, but I didn't want them upsetting students.