[Black Flag]

As a resident who evacuated in September 2005 and returned in January 2006, I can say that the book is still as useful as ever (see "In the Wake of the Storm" p. 124 for a nigh-prophetic suggestion for playing in a post-storm New Orleans).

While the city most certainly has been hurt all around, total devastation was confined to certain neighborhoods such as the Lower 9th Ward, etc. Reconstruction was fast, considering the obstacles involved, and now in many parts of the city you can hardly tell that the place was a disaster area only a few months ago. Uptown, for example, is looking fine, except that the St. Charles streetcar won't be running for a while yet. The Lake district has been slower to recover, but I hear that it's making steady progress. The French Quarter and all the stereotypical, touristy sites were scarcely damaged in the first place.

For those running CotD:NO post-Katrina, the power bases of the three major factions are pretty much intact, but each side will have suffered some as a result of the storm. Vidal's already tenuous grip should be slipping even faster in the wake of such a logistical nightmare. Savoy's domain is structurally intact but is suffering financially from the woeful lack of tourism these days. Baron Cimitiere would be hurt by the fact that the demographic that makes up the majority of his mortal followers was hit the hardest, and many would have died or found themselves unable to return.

In short, it wouldn't necessarily change the fragile balance of power presented in the book, except for perhaps kicking the tension up a notch. On the other hand, the period of lawlessness (both mortal and vampiric) would mean that a number of unsanctioned Embraces, murders, Diablieries, etc., could have happened without anyone being the wiser. Not a bad way to introduce new characters into the mix. Then they get to choose sides as the various factions pick up the pieces and resume their nightly battles.