IMHO the abandoned buildings will stay till some political croney gets the contract to raze the homes and put up whatever...malls...whatever goes there instead.

In Trek's little universe what would happen is local business of any sort in the construction industry would be made whole first and brought back to complete the job. I'm sure lots of them lost not only their homes but tools, employees....I'd make micro loans and grants (the most efficient form of financial aide) to them if I were king of the forest that way you'd simultaneously help a local person and the bebuilding process.

But we must do much more and it's so sad.

Disclosure: Trek who is politcally to the left of most people but fiscally conservative.