Big Heap and others,
Unless you are one of the minorities, who are already on all the government programs available, and your house is full of kids from every stray dog that comes along, you won't get any assistance, because you have already proved you can support yourself and your family. If your insurance isn't sufficient, you are in trouble unless you have a big mouth Mayor and Governor who play the race card each time they are in front of the cameras. You will also need to get your story heard by some freelance camera man and provide lots of tears so he can sell those pictures to the national media.
And don't worry about the homeless, welfare grabbing, foodstamp clutching leaches returning to New Orleans right of way. If history repeats itself, and it usually does, they won't come back until all has been re-built, and there are brand new government housing projects for them to squat in, and some sort of job placement program run by the Politicians's buddies or relatives they can apply for. All pay and no work!
Right now, millions of "refugees" from New Orleans, are sucking the life out of other Cities and States who housed them in time of need. They won't return to New Orleans till the time is right, and the money tree is ripe for picking. Oh, sorry, picking something from a tree would be degrading and almost like work, so they will wait for the government to hire someone to pick the tree clean, then hand it over to them.
My opinion is that any citizen of the gulf coast who previously owned property that they inhabited, should be helped with rebuilding if they want. Otherwise, take a cash settlement, and leave to wherever you wish to start over.
Remember, the rest of the world only sees what is televised, and printed on this subject, as I have. We all know stories can and will be twisted to fit the news media's agenda.
I'm not trying to offend decent folks, but where will the false support stop?
Danny