New Orleans was not a substantial Latino center prior to Katrina. In the 2000 census only 3% of the population was considered Hispanic of any race. Compare that to Houston's 37%. We'll have to see how this plays out after the dust settles.

Many of the Corps and FEMA subcontractors brought legal and illegal Central and South American workers to New Orleans to work on debris removal and reconstruction of the city. I think they plan to stay a while.