New Orleans evacuees can't get enough of Houston

With over a year elapsed since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans is still dealing with the aftermath of the storm. Despite efforts to rebuild, according to statistics reported by the nation's top three moving companies, more people moved out of the area than moved in last year. The city's population seems to have stagnated at around half it's pre-Katrina 455,000, falling far short of Mayor Ray Nagin's prediction of 300,000 by the end of last year.

Programs such as Bring New Orleans Back and the work of Mayor Nagin have apparently been ineffective in encouraging former residents of the Big Easy to move back and remain in New Orleans. Thirty-two percent of current residents said they are planning to relocate within the next two years. This is attributed to the high crime rate, slow rebuilding, and deficient bureaucracy and criminal justice system in the city.

Houston welcomed hundreds of thousands of hurricane evacuees with open arms, but now, with funds and resources running low, there is pressure on New Orleans transplants to return home. According to the Washington Post, two-thirds of evacuees who will not return to New Orleans plan to relocate to Houston permanently. The influx of evacuees has been the scapegoat for many of Houston's problems, including the increased homicide rate (although crime statistics in Houston fell overall last year).