[Thud]

I've been trying to explain why New Orleans is effectively a write-off, and that total rebuilding will be necessary. IMO we have to SLOWLY explain that several months of no maintenance or power in that climate means that abandoned property will rot given the slightest water damage. Most people seem to think that abandoned property in that climate enters some sort of magic stasis which ends with the property being as intact as it was when abandoned.

"For many homeowners, the expense and effort may not even be worth it. The median home in New Orleans costs about $87,000 -- by the time you figure in debris removal, demolition, drying and rebuilding, it may be cheaper simply to knock the whole house down and build a new one on its foundation."

[bjs1779]

I've been trying to explain why New Orleans is effectively a write-off,

Can you imagine how many years of good luck they had? I can't.

[NCC-1701]

I asked this on another thread. How do you dispose of an entire city? A safe estimate would be that 85 to 90 percent of all structures will have to be razed.
That's going to be a HUGE pile of debris. Just how do you throw out an entire major city? That's way on down the road, but that's going to have to be addressed.

Prayers and support to those that was and is in harms way.