Some good, related news. Most of the NO zoo's animals did okay. Also good to hear that the death toll in going to be in the hundreds and not thousands. Hundreds is still a lot, but could have been worse - no better than the city was prepared, no better than some housing was built, and with the many who ignored the evacuation orders.
A Houston friend told me about her son working at a pricey restaurant there and seeing evacuees come in with their Fema debit cards to eat where they would never spend their own money. Perhaps it's good to splurge a bit after all they have been thru, but will they be on the streets with protest signs when that money is gone?
It does seem that other problems were made worse by thousands who lived on the edge of productive society, did not allow for needed escape, and some now trying to exhaust the help they've been given in anticipation of more to be provide.
When I was in North Houston a week ago, I saw a beggar with a sign saying "Only need $1 for a Taco." I saw him collect $2 before out car got to his stop sign, but he hadn't moved. Anyone seen in "Katrina victim" signs out with the street beggars yet? When we do, I bet a lot of them won't be evacuees at all, just opportunists.