As emergency relief gives way to long-term rebuilding in areas hit hard by hurricane Katrina, those who send money now could in
certain cases get their money back and then some.

While the region aims to attract bullish investors, the situation raises ethical questions about how much profit is acceptable to reap from a disaster zone. What’s more, those who invest there need to decide what sort of social vision for a rebuilt New Orleans and Gulf Coast they’d like to help finance.