Dead.
There are, however, live people from - Whoa! Surprise - New Orleans, who ought to be preserved in their alive state if at all possible.
Texas said come on to the Astrodome. Word got out. Living people - the ones we're currently concerned about - decided to take us up on it.
They made it. We're glad.
I honestly can't reduce it any further. The people you want to hate are still in New Orleans: looting, rioting, ripping tags off mattresses, pumping gas into unauthorized containers.
Hate them. Leave our refugees alone.
I still believe that lawlessness in New Orleans is getting people killed, and that the stolen bus will only contribute to that. But we can disagree on it. Also, I hope you are wrong about New Orleans being dead. Though I fear you are right.
"They made it. We're glad."
And just think of the many, many more thousands that left BEFORE the storm. Where will they be in 3-4 months? (surely not still at the Holiday Inn in Memphis.) Friends, relatives and strangers will need to reach out for a long time.
And New Orleans IS dead. It will come back to life, but I fear the 3-4 months some people are talking about is wishful thinking.