Re; Flood insurance. When I do settlements for sales of property, the lenders always require flood insurance, as most of our area is in a flood zone, and the condo associations provide it in their "blanket plan" of insurance in the condo dues. For me, in a single family dwelling, it is also required, also being in a flood zone. But there are limits on coverage. I would never get the value of my home if it were leveled by a hurrican flood. Of course, that is because the risk of this ever happening is so slim. Some insurance companies won't even underwrite for this type of insurance anymore, especially after the losses they suffered last year in Florida.

I think the biggest advantage we on the east coast have is that when the storm is gone, it is gone. The water leaves with the tides. Poor NO has to deal with the aftermath of the breeches of the levees. God knows how long until this city returns to normal. All we can hope for is no outbreaks of diseases like disentery, typhoid, etc.

Back to looters and comments. I'm pretty tolerant socially and politically, but believing we are bound by the rule of law, just can't tolerate this! Unfortunately, they have no jails in which to put these looters! So it is a real dilemma. Usually in a crisis like this, you would hope the cream would rise to the top. Not so, in some instances. I am surprised we have not heard that some independent shopkeeper had not armed himself and shot an intruder. Of course, the looters are probably going to the local Bestbuy and Circuit City for their bounty? It is almost always independent owners when we hear these stories. What employee of a big company would put themselves out on that limb (not that I blame them!)