I was in the scumhole of N'awlins early last year. The streets were filled with garbage and filth, including putrid human waste, piles in the gutter and still walking on the street. I ate in a 'supposed' fine cajun restaurant in the french quarter. In the restroom a heroin cooking spoon and syringe were on top of the commode. I left the city disgusted by the filth. I thought if God needed to give this country an enema, that is where he should stick the nozzle. When the hurricane first hit I was ashamed of my thoughts, but with the deterioration of their 'civilization' I withdrawn my shame.
Help whomever you can to leave, but inspect everything they have with them. Nobody leaves with ill gotten goods! Then, after removing all possible valuables and personal possessions and dealing with the vermin who rule the rubble, level the scumhole. Pour garbage and dirt over it until its above sea level, then lay sewer system so the putrid place can drain. Build Newer Orleans on the rubble.
Sorry you saw the bad part of town (and you can't tell me your restaurant experience isn't repeated in LA, NY, Miami, Chicago and other cities), but you seem to be a lot like most of the media, equating the worst side with everyone in New Orleans. Had you seen some of the non-FQ neighborhoods, and met some of the people, you would have seen an entirely different picture. Thankfully, the fate of New Orleans is not in your hands.
(And guessing the feces you saw was in the FQ? Always a problem there, and probably it was from dogs, but I wouldn't state that absolutely. One of the worst problems in the FQ are the TOURISTS from elsewhere who think they can get drunk/high and run wild in the FQ. To a degree, they can, but it's one reason residents avoid the area.)