As Hurricane Irene barrels up the Eastern Coast, we here at Limo Livery wanted to send our thoughts and prayers for all of our friends and clients that may be in her path. As we in New Orleans know better than most, being prepared for a hurricane is very important.

So, stay safe and stay inside unless you are in the evacuation zones.

Here is a list of what you should have on hand, ready to go, in case of a hurricane, according to the Red Cross:

• Water—at least a 3-day supply; one gallon per person per day
• Food—at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food
• Flashlight
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAAWeather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items (hearing aids with extra batteries, glasses, contact lenses, syringes, cane)
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area
• Baby supplies (bottles, formula, baby food, diapers)
• Pet supplies (collar, leash, ID, food, carrier, bowl)
• Tools/supplies for securing your home
• Extra set of car keys and house keys
• Extra clothing, hat and sturdy shoes
• Rain gear
• Insect repellent and sunscreen
• Camera for photos of damage

Imagine sitting in a tin can, with no air conditioning, strapped in and not able to get up to use the overflowing toilets. After a few too many incidents of passengers not allowed to move, or get off the airplane because the airplane is waiting…sometimes for hours…to take off from the tarmac, finally good news. On April 19, 2011, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ruled in favor of the Passenger Bill of Rights, a new set of rules that airlines must follow regarding passenger comfort level, transparency of information, the handling of consumer complaints and other quality-of-travel issues.

The Passenger’s Bill of Rights unequivocally states what the airlines must do to help ensure the quality of travel and consumer rights of their passengers.

• Passenger complaints—must be responded to within 24 hours, and resolved within two weeks
• Tarmac delays—Have systems in place so that in the event of a long delay, no plane is on the tarmac for more than three hours without being connected to a gate.
• Notify of delays—Notify passengers of known delays within 10 minutes via public announcement or the plane’s loudspeaker.
• Food, water and facilities—In the event of a delay, provide passengers with food, water and lavatory facilities.
• Elderly, disabled or special needs passengers—Be able to move passengers to another gate orr  establish procedures to reunite them with their baggage.
• Fee transparency—make the lowest fare information, cancellation policies, frequent flyer program requirements, etc. available and update them frequently.
• Bumped or delayed passengers—Passengers bumped or delayed more than 12 hours will be compensated with 150% of the ticket price.
• Non-airline advocates—Establish a Passenger Review Committee made up of non-airline advocates who would be able to review and investigate formal complaints.

The new rules are the result of years of grassroots lobbying efforts by the Flyer’s Rights Movement—everyday people tired of feeling taken advantage of by the airlines. FlyersRights.org, the largest consumer advocacy group in the country, was instrumental in the movement. The Passenger’s Bill of Rights also passed because of concerned advocates and willing listeners in the Department of Transportation and U.S. government, including President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood.

Airlines were concerned about the DOT’s new airline restrictions, particularly the Three Hour Rule that requires airlines to release passengers if a plane is stuck on the tarmac for more than three hours.

The concern, according to the airlines, was that the rule would actually cause more cancellations—perhaps to avoid the hassle of disembarking passengers and follow-up complaints. On the contrary, the new rules are showing to improve airline efficiency and reduce cancellations.

For detailed information about the Passenger’s Bill of Rights, go to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement page

Must Eats of New Orleans

Whether you’re in New Orleans for business or pleasure, New Orleans has some of the best food in the world to offer visitors.  Just give us a call and we can get you to and from some of the best eats in the country—and can even arrange a Foodie Tour, customized to your taste 🙂

Here’s a list of food NOT to miss when you’re in town.  Have any to add? Just leave us a comment on our Facebook Page and we’ll add it to our list!

1. Gumbo – Louisiana’s gift to stew-lovers everywhere, this dish has as many variations as Baskin Robbins has flavors.
2. Jambalaya – When paella came to the French Quarter, it absorbed a whole new set of flavors and ingredients to become this dish.
3. Muffuletta – The perfect sandwich for anyone who loves olives and Italian charcuterie.
4. Oysters – Louisiana supplies more than a third of America’s oysters, so you’ve probably already tasted one.  Get a dozen raw or try one of the many cooked prepartions created here, like Oysters Rockefeller or Oysters Bienville.
5. Po-Boy – This local standby sandwich can have fillings that vary from traditional fried seafood to foodie favorite cochon du lait, but it has got to be built on the local style of airy, flaky French bread.
6. Crawfish – Call them crawfish, crayfish, crawdads, or mudbugs, these tasty, tiny lobsters will give you the opportunity to use the phrase “suck head and pinch tail” in polite company.
7. Boudin – Cajun sausage that’s quite delicious, despite being made of little more than spare pig organs and rice.
8. Andouille – Smoked spicy pork sausage that gives flavor to many a local dish, but is also fun to eat on its own.
9. Beignets – Who doesn’t like fried dough?
10. Mrs. Hay’s Stuffed Chicken Wings – this appetizer is a cross between a really good  chicken wing and Vietnamese spring roll.  It’s unique, fun, and delicious, just like New Orleans.

…and, if you’re here for Mardi Gras, you MUST have a KING CAKE!