New Orleans residents flee (yet another) huge storm

[Simon]

BBC reports:

New Orleans residents have been fleeing in their thousands after the city's mayor ordered an evacuation ahead of Hurricane Gustav's expected landfall.

Roads out of the Louisiana port have been crammed with traffic and authorities have been helping those unable to leave by their own means.

Mayor Ray Nagin predicted that Gustav would be "the storm of the century".

America's homeland security chief said the main evacuation was going well as he prepared to fly to the region.

Climate change will cause more and heavier storms. Thats an fact. But the question is will New Orleans be the first city that the rich western world abandons because of the effects of climate change?

[only_green_no_gray]

BBC reports:

Climate change will cause more and heavier storms. Thats an fact. But the question is will New Orleans be the first city that the rich western world abandons because of the effects of climate change?

Yeah i think so, in part because of their geographical situation: they are below the sea level what makes even easier to occur floods

[mountainhiker]

BBC reports:

Climate change will cause more and heavier storms. Thats an fact. But the question is will New Orleans be the first city that the rich western world abandons because of the effects of climate change?

However, they ducked the bullet again which has ALWAYS been a problem with the people in New Orleans facing up to reality of living below sea level. But, all hope is not lost, there is another storm that could come their way and ring their bell.

[Simon]

However, they ducked the bullet again which has ALWAYS been a problem with the people in New Orleans facing up to reality of living below sea level. But, all hope is not lost, there is another storm that could come their way and ring their bell.

And so.. another storm came close to wreck New Orleans yet again. Is there any talk in USA of abandoning New Orleans, and if it's really worth to try to re-build it?