Until now, I don't think I quite realized the vast extent of this tragedy. It appears that the entire economy will suffer, and there's a possibility of further water problems as water upstream comes down the Mississippi. In fact, the river might form a new course as the artificial engineering gives way. Also, the logistics of caring for one million displaced persons who are now jobless and homeless will put incredible strain on social and municipal resources. Houston is caring for a great number of refugees, and I know the city is up to the job right now.... but I don't know what the situation will be over an extended period of time. I'm not sure that anyone does because I don't know that this kind of thing has ever been faced on such a scale. Also, the water problem in NOLA means more deaths and disease to come. The death toll there is already in the thousands and growing. And all of this was predicted, yet funding was cut to FEMA and the Army corps of engineering, which could have made the disaster much less severe.

Sue