In 1927, a horrible flood hit Mississippi. Here are some human and geographical stats regarding this disaster:

16.5 million acres flooded in seven states
637,000 people dislocated
$102 million in crop losses
162,000 homes flooded
41,000 buildings destroyed
6,000 boats used in rescue
250 to 500 deaths.

How much aid did the government give out at that time? Not a single penny. How much help did the army offer? They helped by loaning tents and camp stoves to the refugees. Did that area of the country rise again? Yes - so much so, most people don't even know about the flood of 1927. So what's the difference this time around?

Quite simply, the mantra for the US goverment is "protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" - is it not? That's what it says in the Declaration of Independence. 80 years ago, the American people understood that. Now however, it seems as though the American people expect the government's job to be that of PROVIDING life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Last point - Each refugee's story is different. There is no black and white here. Why didn't they leave? We'll never know why most of them didn't. But I will say, if you are too poor to be able to evacuate a city when a Category 5 hurricane is headed your way, how are you supporting an animal (or more) and their needs? I don't know - I'm not rich and we're about to be spread even thinner with the impending birth of our first child... but if a Category 5er was headed my way, I don't care if I had to throw all 4 cats into a bookbag - ALL my animals would've been headed out of town with me.