Due to hurricane Katrina, Baton Rouge (where I live) has grown dramatically. At the moment, population figures are unreliable at best, however I can say on good authority that the population has more than doubled, going from 300,000 to about 700,000. The strain on the local economy is incredible. And the city still grows, a week after the hurricane. Our mayor anticipates the city to grow past 1 million residents, and it appears that most refugees will become permanent citizens of Baton Rouge. These refugees are paying in cash, but that'll dry up soon considering that many of them are now unemployed. But businesses are relocating here, and the much needed economic shot in the arm looks like it's going to be coming soon.

~Anyletter