One other comment was made in passing that I cannot let pass unscathed.
God did not build a city on a major river near the sea on land that is below sea level, Man did.
Let's examine this.
Does anyone complain that San Francisco straddles a major tectonic fault line? When they have an adjustment, does everyone say it is time to leave San Francisco?
Does anyone complain that cities from Dallas Texas nothr through Oklahoma City, St. Louis, up to Milwaukee are in "Tornado Alley" ?? When an F5 tornado takes out whole city blocks, does everyone say it is time to leave Tornado Alley?
Does anyone complain that Chicago and Buffalo and International Falls typically have whole WEEKS when they are frozen over? So cold that elderly people have to go to a shelter or freeze to death in their own apartments... Does everyone say it is time to leave the Northern tier of cities to avoid the weather?
Does anyone complain that Portland was close enough to Mt. St Helens that it almost got covered in soot? Does everyone say it is time to leave Portland because of the nearby volcanoes?
Beginning to see the trend? How about southern Florida and sinkholes that swallow houses and cars? How about southern California and mudslides that undercut houses? How about northern California and southern Oregon - and parts of Washington state - with wildfires that take out neighborhoods?
Besides which, the oldest part of N'Awlins IS above sea level. It was some outlying neighborhoods that were at questionable elevations. Don't treat it monolithically because the problem is not monolithic.
Chastising folks because of where they choose to live is a dangerous game to play. It makes you look insensitive and boorish when you utter such nonsense.