Will they rebuild New Orleans if it hits as a Cat 5?

[logybogy]

If it comes in as a Cat 4/5 and the entire city is destroyed and in 20 feet of toxic sludge containing sewage and chemicals for 6 months, would they even rebuild the city?

It would probably make more sense to rebuild "New New Orleans" on higher ground or at least invest in 50 feet levees. Aren't the levees around St. Louis 50ft tall? Why are they so low around New Orleans? They've known about the doomsday scenario for decades.

[Mello1]

If it comes in as a Cat 4/5 and the entire city is destroyed and in 20 feet of toxic sludge containing sewage and chemicals for 6 months, would they even rebuild the city?

It would probably make more sense to rebuild "New New Orleans" on higher ground or at least invest in 50 feet levees. Aren't the levees around St. Louis 50ft tall? Why are they so low around New Orleans? They've known about the doomsday scenario for decades.

??huh?? A bit early for the gloom and doom don't ya think???

[logybogy]

I'm just going straight by the NHC path. It's doom and gloom. Cat 4 straight up New Orleans.

It is doom and gloom.

[kevin]

Only about 48 hours too early if you believe the reports that have come out. I'm also skeptical because I put a lot more faith in engineering than most people do, and I know reports have to cover themselves by puting the worst out there instead of the probable.

The city would be rebuilt. People would want that I figure. Also its a port, and a pretty important one I believe. Seeing it is on the end of the Mississippi River.

[yzerfan]

Southern LA used to be above sea level, but is slowly sinking because of coastal erosion, and the sediment that used to come out of the mouth of the Mississippi to replace coastal erosion has been diverted elsewhere.

[Stratosphere747]

Only about 48 hours too early if you believe the reports that have come out. I'm also skeptical because I put a lot more faith in engineering than most people do, and I know reports have to cover themselves by puting the worst out there instead of the probable.

The city would be rebuilt. People would want that I figure. Also its a port, and a pretty important one I believe. Seeing it is on the end of the Mississippi River.

IF and that is a big IF Kevin, depending on the severity of the damage I don't know if our economy could handle the cost.

[ConvergenceZone]

I'm not much into the doom and gloom posts myself. With every hurricane that comes, the postings of how bad and awful it's going to be are ALWAYS worse than what actually happens. I'm not saying it's not going to be bad but buildings and homes are built alot better than they use to be...It will be bad, but not doom and gloom. This storm MAY still go east or west of New Orleans.

[NEXRAD]

Even if Katrina made landfall south or east of New Orleans, and caused there to be a significant surge from Lake Pontchartrain, I would not expect the city to be "entirely destroyed." There would be damage along the lake front, and high rises might have missing glass, but the total devastation scenarios (maybe hinted at by some of those Hollywood films) are really far-fetched.

- Jay
KSC FL

[Mello1]

I'm not much into the doom and gloom posts myself. With every hurricane that comes, the postings of how bad and awful it's going to be are ALWAYS worse than what actually happens. I'm not saying it's not going to be bad but buildings and homes are built alot better than they use to be...It will be bad, but not doom and gloom. This storm MAY still go east or west of New Orleans.

And I guess that's my point. For the utter catastrophic sceanero to play out, Katrina would have to hit at an exact point. No doubt it will be bad if that eye is anywhere near NO at Cat 4, but it will depend on where she ultimately hits land in the final analysis. As bad as the models look, she can still wobble to the east or west...

But I still would get the heck out of dodge right now, that's for sure.

[ConvergenceZone]

I agree NEXRAD. Unfortunately, these type of doomsday posts come with every strong hurricane we have and I've yet to see one prediction on this come true.

[Swimdude]

I'm scared for New Orleans... I REALLY love that city.

[simplykristi]

It is the flooding that would devastate New Orleans not the winds.

Kristi

[djtil]

even if a cat 4 hits from the south..new orleans will still be there.....its a ways from the coast..the only way a city could be "destroyed" by a hurricane is if its really a coastal city (i mean coastal, like beachfront) and takes a full ocean surge......

gloom and doomsdayers be darned....book your mardis gras plans...nola aint going anywhere.

[inotherwords]

Even if Katrina made landfall south or east of New Orleans, and caused there to be a significant surge from Lake Pontchartrain, I would not expect the city to be "entirely destroyed." There would be damage along the lake front, and high rises might have missing glass, but the total devastation scenarios (maybe hinted at by some of those Hollywood films) are really far-fetched.

- Jay
KSC FL

Jay's right. I lived in San Francisco before Loma Prieta and everyone was talking doom and gloom about "the big one" hitting the city and leveling it like it did in 1906. Granted, Loma Prieta wasn't as huge as it might have been, but it was close to a seven pointer, and that's nothing to sneeze at. I think all of SF would have predicted the city would have been in rubble with a 6.8 or 6.9 but what we ended up with wasn't too bad at all. Sad that a small section of double decker freeway collapsed and some people died there, but other than that there were very few fatalities and building damage was far less than people thought it would be.

So let's see what happens. I hope that beautiful city survives, it's really a special place.

[temujin]

The Port of New Orleans is the busiest port in the western hemisphere and the fourth busiest in the world. They'd rebuild that.

Now, they might rebuild the residential sections farther away. Or they build medium density housing to replace the low density housing, and make a taller, but shorter levee.

I don't think the Port of New Orleans can be located anyplace else. They have to keep it right where it is.

[Mobile Expat]

NOLA is below sea-level and surrounded by water. Levee system or no, a direct hit from a Cat 4 storm is bad, bad news.

They don't call New Orleans the Cajun Atlantis for nothing.

[johngaltfla]

Only about 48 hours too early if you believe the reports that have come out. I'm also skeptical because I put a lot more faith in engineering than most people do, and I know reports have to cover themselves by puting the worst out there instead of the probable.

The city would be rebuilt. People would want that I figure. Also its a port, and a pretty important one I believe. Seeing it is on the end of the Mississippi River.

Engineering:



Next question please.

[Blown]

If it comes in as a Cat 4/5 and the entire city is destroyed and in 20 feet of toxic sludge containing sewage and chemicals for 6 months, would they even rebuild the city?

It would probably make more sense to rebuild "New New Orleans" on higher ground or at least invest in 50 feet levees. Aren't the levees around St. Louis 50ft tall? Why are they so low around New Orleans? They've known about the doomsday scenario for decades.

[kevin]

Thanks for being condescending.

Especially since I implied that New Orleans would be screwed. All I think is that they won't be completely screwed as in every building down. I refer you to the Tsunami where water came in at great force but did not sweep all the high rises into the ocean.

[Steve Cosby]

I put a lot more faith in engineering than most people do

Engineering:

(Image removed)

Next question please.

Great response.