New Orleans pop. nears 300,000--65% Pre-Katrina Numbers

[tekisui]

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Despite slow progress in rebuilding some neighborhoods, New Orleans' population is nearing 300,000, or about 65% of its pre-Hurricane Katrina size, according to a new report.

The report, compiled by urban planning consultancy GCR & Associates and based on utility hookups, estimates the population at 295,450 and predicts it will surpass the 300,000 mark soon. That will put it on par with cities like Tampa, and Pittsburgh and provide a "significant indication of New Orleans' sustained viability as a major city and as an anchor for a large metropolitan area," the report says.

Mayor Ray Nagin has pointed frequently to the population estimates as a key way to gauge the city's success at recovering from the August 2005 storm.

Some of New Orleans' hardest hit areas are still dotted with overgrown lots, empty houses and crumbling streets. But Nagin has said he thinks 2008 will be a turning point, as additional federal aid is freed up and more rebuilding grants are made available to homeowners.

more at link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-25-new-orleans-population_N.htm

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

[nosmokes]

2. Does anyone else think the death toll from Katrina is much higher

than the official number which, depending on what source you use can be as low as about 2000 people. I'm really not much of a conspiracist, but I simply can't believe there isn't some kinda cover-up going on here.

[tekisui]

3. I believe it was more in the 10,000-25,000 range.

That was the casualty number widely predicted before Katrina hit. With the media block and hundreds of thousands of evacuees, we can't know for sure.

[midlife_mo_Jo]

5. I don't think it's close to that high

Pre katrina, we were expecting a category 5 to hit land. It didn't.

Yeah, the levees didn't hold, but the damage would have been much worse if the levees would have broken DURING a category five hurricane. Then, we would have seen massive casualties.

[Hardrada]

4. Hurray, Go NOLA!

I want you back.