Michele Zembo, a 54-year-old physician, said she and her husband decided to stay in New Orleans through hurricane Gustav, as they did during Katrina, with their two shar-pei dogs and one African grey parrot. Their house, which dates back to 1834, is three-bricks thick: "It's a pretty good fortress.''

The couple live in the French Quarter, which was spared last time and, so far, this time. "There are probably a core of people in the French Quarter and Uptown that didn't flood last time that stayed.''