I read that Galveston, Tex. was wiped out by a hurricane in 1900.

But then again, no PhD here. I'll bet the jury's still out on some of those tsumami areas.

Lots of cities over the ages disappeared after calamities like Knossus, Atlantis, Troy, and Pompei, but in the modern era they get rebuilt, even those on fault lines and beaches because they're valuable where they are. As for Tulane students, even UNF will be taking in a handful for the semester and housing them in the dorms.

I did some drinking with said Tulane friend the other night. She seemed fine (if drunk) and has not decided what to do yet. Generally speaking, grad and professional school students are taking visiting status at other schools rather than taking the semester off.

There's a small town in Illinois - can't recall the name right now - that was wiped out in the 80s or 90s after a major natural disaster. (Again, can't recall details; I think it was a flood.)
Rather than rebuild it in the traditional sense, they moved the entire town a few miles to higher ground.
If the same were done to New Orleans (which is, at least theoretically, possible, if they're willing to abandon much of the historically significant places) and if it cost about the same per capita, it would be about $50 billion to move the entire city. Of course, that's on top of all the costs to rescue and resettle the residents, pump out the floodwaters, demolish whatever's left, etc.

Big Pinz,

Wasn't that little town in the Midwest wiped out by a fire rather than a flood?

There's also Atlanta...my favorite suburban hell!

KO, you so better not be thinking of Chicago.