ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES quotes the Red Cross’s state­ment on why they are not in New Orleans, including:

* The state Home­land Secu­rity Depart­ment had requested–and con­tin­ues to request–that the Amer­i­can Red Cross not come back into New Orleans fol­low­ing the hur­ri­cane. Our pres­ence would keep peo­ple from evac­u­at­ing and encour­age oth­ers to come into the city.