Katrina Cars

If you look on almost any car forum on the net, you will see a warning about "Katrina Cars". There is good reason for this. Flood damaged cars are often reconditioned and put back on the market to unsuspecting buyers. Sometimes the title will reflect that they are salvaged cars, and sometimes the cars are sent away from the flood area and the titles are cleaned up.
There are thousands and thousands of Katrina cars here on the coast. Dozens of new scrap yards have popped up, some of them stretching for miles on end. In some places along the beach, there is actually a tideline of cars like the one in this picture. The government is having to fight to clean up some of the cars that are left. Many owners will not give permission to have their lots cleared of debris and they are threatening to sue if they are cleared anyway. Most people are glad to have their property cleared of the debris at no cost, but many can not let go. They want to hang on to what they have left, even if it is just a pile of debris or a wrecked car.
Although buyers all over the states are being warned against buying a car from within the damaged areas, the used cars that are for sale are in short supply. So many people lost their cars that the used car market is just sold out. We have been looking for a good used car for Brad to drive and there are very few to be found. The used cars lots are almost empty and any car that comes up for sale in the paper, goes fast. We are currently looking well outside the area to find a car.