As a white southerner, I disagree with that completely.

While some folks may have foolishly chosen to ride it out, many folks of all colors lacked personal transportation or money to get out. The incompetent city government didn't evacuate and who can forget the pictures of school buses sitting in flood waters rather than evacuating stranded residents.

For the most part, people with the means evacuated. Those without means did not, and they were poorly served by their governments.