For the sections well below sea level, let me suggest a designation of "lake".
There is land above sea level west of town. Rebuild there. Put two levees around the French Quarter and downtown and areas still above sea level. Bulldoze the rest and let nature take its course.
Shep is in NOLA now and reporting the cold hard facts. It is hard. The politicians will pander, but the people are being realistic. The only thing that makes sense is to double up on the levees that protect areas that did not flood and seriously thinking about dredging and filling. The whole place needs a new land use plan.
For those that are there. I know it is hard. But you really have to slow down. It takes a long time. We did not have power for weeks. I got a generator, found a canteen, and just started to pittle around the yard. It took me about a week to get the pool cage out of the pool. Work slow, drink water. Take breaks; get away. Life comes back, but it is slow. Everybody I know in Punta Gorda that moved to fast got screwed. Don't sign contracts with anyone.