Protecting The Area From Another Major Storm Is Crucial (New Orleans)

[Terri]

Protecting The Area From Another Major Storm Is Crucial (New Orleans)

John McQuaid, Bob Marshall and Mark Schleifstein
Times- Picayune

Spending billions of dollars to stop a worst-case scenario is the only solution that can guarantee the city's long-term future and persuade people to return and businesses to invest again, they say.

"If we don't do that, there's no hope of rebuilding the city of New Orleans. Frankly, if we can't get that done, why would anyone come back?" said Randy Hanchey, assistant secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources. "And there's only one way we can do that: build a barrier system strong enough to withstand the storm surge of a Category 5 storm. And we can't take our time doing it. We have to start now."

More (http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1130219897302410.xml )

[peanutmnm]

Thinking that a barrier can be built that will withstand the forces of a storm surge from a category 5 hurricane is some warped thinking. How about reinforcing and building up the sides of a volcano then if there's an eruption, the lava won't overflow? That makes as much sense as Noah telling God, "Rain? Yeah right, God! They'll just buy umbrellas!" Hey, people! Get real! You can only do so much preparing and protecting against natural disasters. You just need a city & state government that cares more for it's citizens than they do for themselves. Those city & state officials had countless opportunities and the money given to them to build up those levees but chose to use it for the purchase of new vehicles (Cadillacs & Lincolns) for the government officials; for new top-of-the-line trucks & cars for their other city & state employees who drive government vehicles for work; like rebuilding the Mayor's & Governor's
Official Residence & offices so they were show places as "befitting their status as "Heads of State". I'm sure some liberal brought that up when talking about the help that Washington offered them, I just can't recall who said it right now. (Can I get an Amen?)

[Luckyme]

Amen peanutmnm.

[silversword63]

Amen again

[Shen]

Amen from me, too!

There is no fool proof solution to hurricanes or the damage they will cause. *The best they could do would be to fill in the "bowl" with dirt and rebuild on top of it.

In Houston, they are "redoing" the roads and building them lower than the surrounding ground level by about 4 feet. *The theory is that the runoff water from storms would flow more freely to the ocean, thus causing less flooding and less subsidence, which is a big problem in this area. *This is ill-conceived, as lower roads full of water cause drowned cars and occupants. *It makes it difficult to evacuate those trapped in their homes. *

Before, with the roads higher than the surrounding ground, there was some flooding in certain limited areas, but everyone could evacuate. *However, a number of years ago this ding-bat woman from the local weather bureau started a campaign to eliminate subsidence, and her solution was to lower the roads, "so nature could take its course," because the water had to go around Houston, instead of through it, to get to the ocean. *Now, we drown, because she did not understand fluid dynamics. *No common sense!! * http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

That seems to be going on with a lot of the ideas about repairing NO. *Too bad, because it'll end up costing more money and lives.

[Whitetop]

Shen, I live in Houston and never heard that theory but I haven't read the Houston Comical for years either. If that is the reason they are lowering the roads then the ding bat had to convence a lot of people that was a workable solution. Of course during the Brown adminstration anything was possible; except honesty in government.

[Shen]

Whitetop, she was doing lectures before Brown. *Back in the 80's, I think. *They were talks set up for pilots by the Weather Service. *The one we went to was at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, hosted by Ron Stagno from the Houston/Galveston Weather Office. *My impression, at the time was that it was some environmental, wacko-inspired thing. *Imagine my surprise these many years later to see it in our streets. *The lady had a very short part of the program. *I don't recall her name, but it stands as an example of how one ill-conceived, untested idea can grow. *During that time, we were taking water from wells beneath the ground, and her point was that it should come from the water shed, as taking it from wells led to subsidence, as well as did forcing water to go around Houston, rather than through it, as it would naturally. *The idea was that natural water flow would replenish the water beneath the city. *Well .... maybe.

I stopped taking the Houston Comical years ago, too. Though, at times I do consider starting it again, so I can cancel it in disgust! Ha!

Just got this in my e-mail:

With hurricanes, tornado's, flooding and severe t-storms tearing up the country from one end to another, the quote of the month is:

Jay Leno: *"Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Ya think? * http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[bakedbones]

Its been said the city should move a few miles upstream, but the rush to return to the old ways is strong! *

The "RedNeck Riviera" might, perhaps need to be sold by the less affluent to the more affluent, . . ( better, still, leased tied to revenues), . . who, then might afford the appropriate insurance premiums to take this fiscal albatross from about the necks of we who do not chose the path of such likely disaster in which to live! *Then, when all the resorts get blown to kingdom come next year, it will be a private financial disaster, and not one I am required to support! *Don't get me wrong. I believe in the safety net of airlifts and military rescues and reduced or zero rate Grants/Loans, to allow for quick recovery, . . but this area needs to regrow slowly, . . with caution, investigation, and strong probability tables!
http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

*I would gladly support a new batch of resort vacation sites with my patronage for a great family week on the gulf coast post hurricane season. Turn the Old French Quarter, Bourbon Street et al, ( someone better familiar than I should choose ), into a reinforced attraction with adjoining reinforced, evacuable amenities, world class thrill rides, high speed monorails, vast wetland reserves between the parking and the park, . . etc. Maintain N.O. history as an attraction, but stress the logic in abandoning/enshrining it, as the best solution. Hold an engineering/ design competition to rebuild, . . throw in a film festival, . . whatever. Be smarter than the environment!

I sympathize with those who's lives are generationally tied to the region, and hope such a transition might include them in the boon of development, but to continue to pour such vast amounts of money into this from nationwide taxation is blatantly unfair! (and a bit stupid, to boot! )!
http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag17.gif

Edited for clarity, . . is this clearer?

[boborich]

How about if La. moved it's Governors mansion and Representatives housing/offices to the lowest point of New Orleans. And build a hurricane command center there that must be staffed by the Governor and representatives in the event of a storm. (I mean, they have to be there to call up the guard. http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif ) Other than that, no funds will leave their pockets to reinforce the levees, and N.O. will become Lake N.O. with every hurricane that hits them. And the local and state government officials will blame everyone else for the failure to protect the people under their care.

The base for this problem is the same as that of many of our nations problems. Too many people love to complain, but they won't fulfil their constitutional duty to take an active role in the government. Look at the low numbers after a vote. Especially a local (city/county) vote. Without the majority of the people watching and holding their elected officials accountable, there will be no change. Business as usual. Back office deals and party strife. Huff!! puff!! Grrrr!!! Rant over.

[Cirbuck]

If you really want to keep tabs on what is going on in Louisiana, post storms, you need to check out this link:

http://lapoliticalnews.blog spot.com/

Check out what the good Governor has been up to since the disasters. *If the good people (and I do mean the good ones that are left) care anything about salvaging their state, then the largest, loudest campaign for the recall of a governor needs to be enjoined immediately. *She is appointing commission on top of commission to the point that many overlap in their endeavors and all are made up of her political cronies. *Thousands and millions of dollars are being wasted by a bankrupt administration to create a flow of boondoggling paperwork in an effort to confuse and hide from the inevitable facts as long as possible. *She has now told the Senate hearing committee in Wash. that she needs 90 extra days to comply with their order to turn over all documents from her offices that run from a week before the storm till 2 weeks afterward. *(Can you say shredder?) *This woman is obstructing justice and stalling until she hears how much congress is going to be willing to give her, not really working on some smart cost plan to rebuild her state. *Just, "how much can we get?". *

Further in the blogs you will see that Nagin is starting to get a picture of how taxpayers are beginning to come to their senses now that the drama of refugees is past. *He is quoted as saying," ...I have looked into the eyes of congress, and I don't like what I saw."

If they don't throw these bums out soon, Louisiana is going to be mired in rebuilding, corruption scandals, and it's complete downfall for years. *And, then what are we going to do with it? *Sell it back to the French? *The absolute best thing Gov Blanco could do at this point is abdicate the throne. *Every day she stays in power is killing her state. *She is without a doubt either the most delusional leader elected to office living in denial, or the most uncaring discompassionate crook that will end up being remembered as completely inept.

As if things aren't bad enough, at her political prodding, their legislature just past a new bond issuance to bolster the budget for $45,000,000. *You wouldn't believe what all the money is set to be spent on. *Equestrian centers, parks, and tons of useless everyday pork all in the light of a state that needs new infrastructure just to get it's own citizens back to pay into the tax base.

What Gray Davis was pulled down for pales in comparison to what this woman deserves. *Some people just don't want to give up power even in the glaring light of honest logic. *Unbelievable.

Makes me almost wish I lived in Baton Rouge for a while (not really!). *I would be out front of the capital building with magaphones getting signatures on petitions to have new elections. *If somebody over there is really really smart, they should jump up in the limelight and start screaming to represent the people. *I guarantee you it wouldn't take long for thousands to jump on board and the MSM would have to cover it. *That is the only way Louisiana is going to start endearing itself back into the hearts of we taxpayers in other states to want to help.