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Amid all the devastations of Katrina, what group was most vulnerable? If you followed the news compassionately, you might say, “the poor,” “African Americans,” “women,” “women of color.” The best answer is actually “the old.” Older New Orleanians were most at risk, by being also predominantly poor and female and African-American, and also (sometimes) weak, ill, or disabled. In New Orleans, 23% of the 484,000 citizens had disabilities. The figure was 50% for people over 65. 1 They couldn't crawl out on roofs or set off on the highways with their backpacks.