Pitt, like almost everyone else who visits, surprised by lack of progress.

Pitt shocked by post-Katrina devastation - Yahoo! News:

"NEW ORLEANS - After two days of getting his first up-close look at post-Katrina New Orleans,
Brad Pitt said Friday he was shocked at the devastation that remains almost a year later.

'I was not prepared,' the actor said, describing how he drove for miles and saw street after street of devastation."

It's pretty much everybody's reaction, once they see for themselves.