Katrina Damage Totals

[Frank P]

I read an article in the Mobile Press Register yesterday that provided me the stats I listed in my earlier post... 28,000 homes were lost in Andrew, 275,000 lost in Katrina... they stated in the article that it took 10 years to rebuild all the lost homes... whether or not its correct I have no idea....

I can tell you this, it took the MS coast more than 10 years to rebuild from Camille....

[timNms]

I if I could give my answer, the answer would be a loud no to any reconstruction. One does not have to live right on the coast, or in a tidal surge plain that is below the surface of the sea.

The reconstruction should occur inland

What about reconstruction in tornado alley or San Francisco? Do we abandon those areas because they are prone to tornadoes or earthquakes? What about the areas along the Mississippi River who are vunerable to flooding? Sometimes we need to think before we speak.

[Derek Ortt]

I stand by my statement of not rebuilding after Katrina. My tax dollar should not support the reconstruction of an area that is going to be leveled again.

Tornado alley is different as the odds of a particular location being hit are slim

As for the WC, there also should NOT be reconstruction on a fault line due to the risk, but the return period between disasters is less there than there is on the hurricane coast.

I will oppose the reconstruction of Miami in its current form when a cat 4 or 5 levels the city as well

[timNms]

I stand by my statement of not rebuilding after Katrina. My tax dollar should not support the reconstruction of an area that is going to be leveled again.

Tornado alley is different as the odds of a particular location being hit are slim

As for the WC, there also should NOT be reconstruction on a fault line due to the risk, but the return period between disasters is less there than there is on the hurricane coast.

I will oppose the reconstruction of Miami in its current form when a cat 4 or 5 levels the city as well

What are the odds that of a tornado striking a particular location as opposed to a major hurricane striking a particular coastal area? Either way, it's bound to happen at one time or another.
I suppose as long as there is man on earth, people will build in high risk areas. It is my opinion that as long as people are willing to pay the higher premiums for insurance, it is their right to build wherever they wish.

[docjoe]

Odds aside the big difference to me is that a hurricane causes extensive damage over such a large area. I grew up outside of Birmingham, AL. In 1998 we had a F5 tornado. The winds dwarfed anything in a hurricane. Damage in the path of the storm was complete and loss of life was in the 30s. However the rebuilding time was relatively short. In the grand scheme of things only a very small number of structures and people were affected....although it was catastrophic for those affected. Also I would guess the number of major hurricane landfalls the past 10 years is probably greater than the number of F4-F5 twisters. Just my thoughts...

docjoe