If people leave, their jobs will need replacing - that was not the case in Katrina.

If I can not get access to the property, I will assume anything built before 1982 will contain asbestos/lead in common materials (based on my experience there's a 90% chance this is the case).I believe Texas requires any "contractor" performing ASB abatement to have a license, which means Texas has some regulations established regarding removal & disposal.In California, if you are the property owner you can perform the removal/abatement yourself (assuming SFR), the only requirement is that the asbestos waste be bagged up & taken to a designated facility (in my case in Santa Barbara there is a facility at UCSB where homeowners can take the waste at no/minimal charge). 

Is this usually the case in other areas of the country, or does it vary?

This isnt the case in stocks or other real estate markets.

An eminent domain case in California is only worth an expert's opinion.

Having people do those things can free you up to focus on what you do best and what gives you the greatest financial return per hour.If you are starting out with very little money then you generally have to look at doing things yourself and boot strapping until you can build enough capital to invest and grow your business.I will give you a case in point.

There's also a section that lays out what the tow company has to do and in similar fashion if they don't they can be sued.Not saying this as something scary (because it's pretty easy to make sure you're operating correctly) rather it might waste more time if you have defend your case in small claims.

Is that the case in LA?

You have to open every court case in all eight courts... 2 times a day.  

That is the case in 3 out of the states I do business in.