The Big Blank Canvas

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With the Governor's new plan in place, maybe those funds really will start getting there. Meanwhile, the street has been rebuilding itself without them. Noah Chiasson, 58, lives in Lakeview along the rim of Lake Pontchartrain. He and his wife bunk on the undamaged second floor of their house. They have no gas, no phone, no TV, no postal service. But they're O.K. With few lighted houses around him, it gets so dark after sundown that it's possible again to see stars in the nighttime sky. "But every night I look out the window now, there are less stars," he says. He knows why too. "The lights are coming on again."

HAZARDOUS WHEN WET

Although people can try to return to any part of town, a city commission has issued maps showing the areas where rebuilding is recommended--and where it might be more complicated Construction projects*

Levee to be repaired

Levee with no significant damage

NEIGHBORHOOD-PLANNING AREA

These parts of town suffered serious flood damage in Katrina's wake. The city is working with residents to develop plans for how best to bring these sections back to life wherever possible.

IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY

In these areas, Katrina inflicted minimal damage. The mayor's commission says whatever rebuilding is necessary can begin right away--and in many of these neighborhoods, it's under way.

URBAN IN-FILL AREAS

Even before Katrina, many of these were underutilized parts of town, including empty lots. The city now sees the areas as having potential for large-scale commercial or residential development. Lake Pontchartrain

Mississippi River

Louisiana Superdome

Metairie

Jefferson Parish

St. Bernard Parish

Orleans Parish

Downtown

Convention Center Tulane University

French Quarter

Ninth Ward Lower Ninth Ward

Algiers

Orleans Ave. Canal

17th St. Canal

London Ave. Canal

N 2 miles 2 km

TIME Map Sources: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; *Goal is to restore levees to pre-Katrina strength by June 1, 2006 Wallace Roberts & Todd LLC's Action Plan for New Orleans