That was a heart-wrenching read, sub_umbra.
I'm just north of you in BR. While I was spared having to go into New Orleans, I did work 27 days straight during those first few terrible weeks. Lots of my colleagues were down there and have tons of Katrina stories.
I just want you to know most that the asinine actions of NOPD during the event were the result of the dynamic duo of congenital idiots; Ray Nagin and Eddie Compass. I never thought I'd see a public official make a bigger public moron out of himself than Aaron Broussard; I was wrong. Of course, old Eddie had to leave; but that's another story. Watch the paper...
I am not defending NOPD. While many of them are indeed dedicated cops, an equal number did many shameful things; most of which will never be accounted for. The 50 or so who did not bother to return from their desertion of duty have been fired. But the ones who left, then crawled back when the danger was past, and the ones who stayed and took advantage of the situation... history has apparently been re-written for them. Frankly, I'm not surprised.
But the nonsense about dragging residents out by their heels... that was pure Nagin/Compass. I'm told that the few instances where this was actually done (mainly in the Quarter), the street cops who did it did so very reluctantly.
If the city survives, it will be a better place than it was; mainly because practically all of the project trash is gone and not likely to return. But the tax base is not coming back quick enough to sustain operations, we hear.
At any rate, good luck; and a tip of the hat for surviving in place for so long without assistance. I think very few folks even realize just how bad things were there.