"...why not rebuild the city further inland; on higher ground and out of the reach of maritime hurricanes?"

well, the answer WILL be that it wouldn't then be historic New Orleans, and people are VERY attached to history, even at high prices and danger.

I have been saying for years (and few times this past week) that serious thought needs to be given to where major populations ought to be allowed to build and live. The Port of New Orleans is pretty important, and I suppose some of that area MUST be repaired and rebuilt, but to allow it to just be patched back together and 'improved' a bit is sheer folly. The next disaster will cost even more. There are other cities engaging in high-risk expansion, like building in the hills around Los Angeles where fires hit every few years. It needs to be stopped............