And, yes, the mayor is right, light rail will make possible the evacuation of population centers.

NPR: Light Rail Would Connect More than Point A and B

But for the evacuation purposes, you merely add the population increases just like you would for any other event that would occur during your evacuation timeframes.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

The official mandatory evacuation order for the general population will remain in effect until then, said the mayor's spokesman, James Ross.

CNN: Louisiana governor: Speed up power grid repairs

The authorities ordered the evacuation of the town's entire population, estimated at some 100, 000 people, as firefighters battled to bring the flames under control.

ECONOMIST: Turkey, flattened and in shock

One of the central criticisms of government response to Katrina centers on the failure to reach out to the's city large impoverished population and make sure people were aware of mandatory evacuation orders and had the means to flee.

CNN: Campaign reportedly urged self-reliance for poor

Today, in Haiti, there are new procedures in place to prepare for a catastrophe, to issue warnings to the population - over the radio - and to carry out their evacuation.

UNESCO: Jean-transcript | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

It may sound like a crazy idea, but Singapore, a tiny island country whose population would have no place to go in the event of a wide-scale evacuation, is giving buried nukes a closer look.

FORBES: Singapore Considers Underground Nuclear Reactors

The town of Kawamata normally has a population of around 20, 000 residents, but more people are likely staying in Kawamata after a government-ordered evacuation from the area surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

FORBES: Radiation Found in Food and Water in Japan [Updated]