Seeking Refuge

I used the term refugee to describe the survivors of Katrina in a post recently. I shouldn't have used that term to describe them. They are citizens of the United States of America. Just like you and I. Here is the definition of a refugee;

American Heritage Dictionary:
One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary
An individual seeking refuge or asylum; especially : an individual who has left his or her native country and is unwilling or unable to return to it because of persecution or fear of persecution (as because of race, religion, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion).

Although, after rethinking it, maybe they are political refugees.