[agere_contra]

The group had called the British embassy in Washington from a mobile phone

This bit is shameful for us Britons, with that bit about the Embassy forcing the callers to ring the consulate

[lormand]

Spread word to all Britons, if New Orleans is repopulated with the same people as before, I would suggest going somewhere else.

I used to say pre-katrina, "show me someone who wants to vacation/holiday in New Orleans, and I will show you someone who has never been there"

[beef]

Well, this is typical of how bureaucracies operate everywhere. Sad but true.

[Budgie]

I agree, but I'm not surprised, the Foreign Office has a long record of doing as little as possible for British citizens (subjects, whatever) in need.