I lost homes two times to either divorce are a greedy co-owner. Each time I started over. I now own my home free and clear and the first thing I did was declare it homestead. I'm far enough out in the country where the chances are the city is not going to claim eminent domain. Did it without help also. Dam it grab hold and start over.
Now if NOLA were to raise the land above sea level where it wants to rebuild, ala Galveston, I could entertain being convinced it's worthwhile.
Get those Barges that are filled with Mississippi Mud that has been dredged from the barge lanes, and start filling. It could benefit the river and NOLA also.
The most conservative member of my family is a banker in Bay St. Louis whose property took in 20 ft. of water, diehard rockribbed Republican and even he and his family lived in a FEMA trailer until a few weeks ago.
I have yet to meet anybody who turned down federal assistance when they needed it and it was offered.