It's rather a misconception about "all the money" - virtually none of the, what $80 some odd billion? has actually arrived here. SBA won't approve any loans (I know people who've been trying to get their business reopened since January - SBA says they qualify for $350K, but the check's always in the mail.

Insurance companies other than State Farm are only paying a fraction unless you take them to court. Much of the $80B is payout for flood policies, but the Gov't takes credit for that since it's subsidized. Trouble is, not subsidized enough apparently since many, many claims still haven't been paid.

In the city there's a some of gutting of houses, but a lot is done by non-profits and volunteers - not much reconstruction. Most of the 150,000 flooded cars were still in the streets a month ago, along with a lot of boats. Stores and restuarants close very early, some places close mid-day because of utility interruptions. A lot of it falls under the rubric of economic justice since the poor can't get back here, never mind fight the system.

They talk about all the people who've returned to the city but I think many, maybe even most, are itinerant labor looking to cash in. You can still drive for miles and see nothing but rot, not even stray dogs.

I wouldn't think of it as a vaction place for quite some time yet.