When New Orleans flooded during Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, tens of thousands of displaced residents fled across the country, and new data shows for the first time exactly where they went.

Why it matters: The data identifies cities that proved stickier than others, researcher Elizabeth Fussell tells Axios.

Flashback: When the levees broke, about 80% of the city was flooded, leaving much of New Orleans suddenly uninhabitable.

By the numbers: New Orleans' population fell from 484,674 in April 2000 to an estimated 230,172 in April 2006, the Data Center says.

• 33% of Katrina-affected New Orleanians had not returned to the metro by 2006.
• By 2019, her research shows, 31% of Katrina-affected New Orleanians still lived elsewhere.
• For the Chicago Metro area, the data reveals 996 people relocated in 2006, while only 526 were still here in 2019.

Zoom in: Diane Chaine grew up in Park Ridge, but moved to New Orleans in 1998. She didn't evacuate before the hurricane because her family didn't have transportation. They hunkered down in a second-floor apartment in the French Quarter with friends and her 18-month-old baby.

What they're saying: "We dodged the hurricane, but not the catastrophic levee breaches," Chaine tells Axios. "It was part of the city without water. We stayed there for eight days. I'm lucky we didn't die."

Chaine says it was an Australian police officer who came to the rescue, locating a car to use to leave. She drove to Houston, then Tulsa, and then eventually flew back to Chicago.

Yes, but: Chaine decided to return to New Orleans in 2006, almost a year after the hurricane.

Today, Chaine still lives there. And her baby? She just turned 21.

• "I do still feel emotional," Chaine reflected. "It was a 'death' (of our former lives before) and, therefore, the pain will never totally go away despite having learned to manage that pain over time."

Go deeper

The summer is bringing a bumper crop of new restaurants serving Laotian street food, twists on Italian-American classics and whole wheat dumplings.

Lao Der cooks up a tempting array of rare (in Chicago) Laotian street food in a petite dining room in Old Irving Park.

Dig in: We were recently blown away by the sai ua moo fermented sausage ($12.95), the nam khao sticky fried jasmine rice with red curry ($14.95) and ribbons of sliced papaya in the tum Thai salad ($9.95).

Dimmi Dimmi brings red-sauce Italian fare with a twist to the corner of Armitage and Seminary under the watch of chef Matt Eckfeld.

Dig in: Handmade pasta, tavern-style pizza ($20-$24), Italian beef carpaccio ($24), Hamachi crudo diavola ($19) and Slagel Farm sausage and peppers ($12).

Trino serves Latin American-influenced steaks and more in the West Loop under chef Stephen Sandoval.

Dig in: Avocado-honeydew gazpacho ($17) and chips and chicharrónes with Ossetra caviar ($58). Steaks range from a 10-ounce picanha prime rib ($46) to an 18-ounce bone-in filet ($92).

Luella's Southern Kitchen has reopened in Albany Park after closing last year in Lincoln Square. Chef Darnell Reed had planned to serve only breakfast and lunch, but says he's still settling on his hours.

• Recently, "we didn't get our first guest until 11am so we're going to keep watching to see what works best," he tells Axios.

Dig in: Chicken and waffles ($23), a boudin sausage biscuit ($12) and a rare Kentucky Hot Brown ($18) featuring bacon, Slagel turkey, tomatoes and cheesy mornay sauce over toasted brioche.

More restaurant openings

🚊 Regional Transportation Authority board members are meeting this morning to vote on transferring $74 million from Metra and Pace to the CTA to delay massive transit cuts. (Tribune)

💉 The Itasca-based American Academy of Pediatrics is at odds with the federal government on COVID-19 shots for children. The academy strongly recommends them for children ages 6 months to 2 years, while the new federal guidelines don't recommend the shot for healthy children of any age. (WBEZ)

🏈 Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent got emotional after signing a two-year, $10 million contract extension, making him one of the highest-paid backups in the NFL. (CBS Sports)

👋 Hi, it's Justin!

I'm on my database kick again this week, asking you to answer some basic questions about life in Chicago.

• The answers will be used for a unique Chicago game show that is starting to take shape! Think "Family Feud" meets Geoffrey Baer.

Methodology: It's five short questions about a topic. We've already covered summer and music. (If you missed those, they are attached to this week's quiz below.)

Top answers on the board: What's your bedtime routine, Chicago?

Take the survey here!

👋 Hi, it's Justin with a mini-review of a Chicago coffee shop. I'm trying to visit all of them if I don't die of caffeine poisoning first.

This week's spot: Engine Coffee (1109 N. Ashland Ave.)

The vibe: Great little storefront. There is limited indoor seating, so I snagged a spot outside, but be forewarned ... Ashland is loud.

The coffee: I went with the famous Espresso Tonic ($6), which is espresso mixed with tonic instead of milk. It's not my cup of tea (or coffee), but it was flying off the shelves.

• I admit I had my doubts. Bitter water and bitter coffee mixed together? Still, I think I enjoyed it. Maybe.

Yes, but: The iced latte was good, too.

The service: Baristas were helpful, even if they steered me to the tonic. 🤣

☕️ 10-word review: Go for the coffee, and maybe stay for the tonic.

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