This reality suggests there are further long-term costs to the local population and the national economy at large, again exacerbating the spiraling effect of the damage from Katrina. Particularly if the city's ills such as looting, health hazards posed by poor sanitation, poor drainage, and poor public relations are not treated in an expedient fashion, many businesses will likely relocate from the area, precipitating the core industries of local economy into long-term decline and adding to the costs of this terrible human and economic tragedy to the city and to America at large.

The article's data shows once again how difficult it is to calculate the impact of a hurricane, and Katrina may have snuffed out some of the job prospects of the city's residents in an aspect of the city's financial life that seemed so vibrant and flourishing only days ago.