Tennessee here and this state has also absorbed many Louisiana storm victims, as well as many other states have done. Many people got jobs, moved in with relatives in other states and will not go back to Louisiana and continue trying to live in a futile situation. People get tired after a while and just choose to live elsewhere.
While I do sincerely appreciate the contributions that have been made to date, abandoning the region given it's infrastructure relevance is NOT the answer.
For example, relative to your claim and others that MANY have moved and abandoned the place, the last refinery built in the US from the ground up in the 70's, the Gulf facility at Alliance in Plaquemines Parish which is now owned by ConocoPhilips, just gave their workers an approximate 30% across the board pay increase to keep them here.
I'm going to print this thread as it stands right now, so I can come back in 18-24 months when gas is $6 per gallon and natural gas has quadrupled, and I will then repost the scans and replies I received to my appeal for assistance and action as the public helplessly and futily screams and complains, and wonders why, gas is $6 per gallon...