Elkport versus New Orleans

There are key differences.

Elkport is a town of 86 people. Of those 86, every single resident chose the government buy-out, which paid them 110% of the pre-flood assessed value of their property. This is going to cost the federal government less than $2 million, including buying part of another community across the river.

This is not even a good comparison.

My own home was bought by the government after Tropical Storm Allison, and following another smaller flood after that, so I know where these folks are coming from.

It would not make any sense to buy-out all of New Orleans. I would be more apt to agree with raising the city, as was done with Galveston following the Great Storm.