Not impossible...
...but in the 19th century, we had no oil refineries and so on located in New Orleans. Major industry calls for major industrial-strength support of the region.
Besides, the old New Orleans had different environmental conditions that helped to protect it. In our build-up of the region, for business purposes, we have radically changed that.
Besides, we pay the Federal government for those services, to share the costs and the risks, because we recognize that we are all in this together. (Well, some of us recognize that.) We should get something out of those agencies for their salaries, benefits, retirement, etc.