New Orleans residents invited to return at own risk

The mayor of New Orleans today invited residents of some of the city’s neighbourhoods to return at their own risk, a move that could bring back about one-third of the city’s half-million inhabitants.

The newly-opened areas, including the French Quarter and Garden District, all escaped major flooding in a city that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina a month ago before receiving a second blow from Hurricane Rita last week.

Business owners began showing up yesterday, some saying they were pulling out and others vowing to rebuild.

“We are lucky. I was expecting much worse than this,” said Germame Kassa, whose Ethiopian grocery and deli was relatively unscathed, although the stink of rotting food permeated through the locked doors.

“One way or the other, we’ll be back in business.”

Mayor Ray Nagin was pushing aggressively to reopen the city despite concerns raised by state and federal officials about bacteria-laden floodwaters, a lack of drinkable water and a sewage system that still does not work.