Katrina - Has America Forgotten?

[TSmith274]

This is a nice healthy discussion. But I'd like to remind everyone that Louisiana is pursuing it's oil and gas royalties. If that happens, there will be no need for tax dollars from our fellow Americans. It would more than cover the cost of the most elaborate of systems.

[GeneratorPower]

The fact is that each one of us needs to make a personal decision about where we want to live. It should be obvious to any reasonable person that NOLA is not a safe place to live anymore. Apparently it never was, but Katrina proved that fact. People that choose to move back to NOLA for whatever reason are putting themselves at high risk.

Risk that the city will flood again. Risk that there will be no police or fire service. No hospitals. No food. No water. The risk is very very high.

Many people will move back to NOLA because of sentimental attachment to the city or for whatever reason. Others for jobs, or for trying to salvage the remnants of their homes.

Each person must make the decision and live with the consequences. I hear a lot of folks complain about the government response and demand better levees, better FEMA, etc. People need to get a grasp on reality. The reality is the levees are NOT better. [/b]In all likelyhood, the levees were weakened by Katrina even further.[/b] FEMA is NOT working as we would hope. And the reality is, if NOLA gets another sideswipe with a CAT 3 hurricane, there is probably a 99% chance of a repeat performance.

It's like living at the base of a volcano that's venting steam and gas. Come on folks, don't kid yourselves.

And if you're on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, you are going to get a 30FT surge again if another storm comes through like Katrina. Unless you can change the slope of the continental shelf, which you can't.

All day long one can fuss and whine about whatever. But if you're dead, you're dead. You can't sue anybody for anything when you're dead.

There were folks who tried to get into shelters or evacuate but wouldn't leave their pets behind. Friends, listen. Is it worth dying over a dog? A cat? Personally, I would rather die than leave my children alone. But for an animal? I love animals but if it's us or them...bye bye.

People died for their dogs during Katrina. This is not noble. It is foolish.

Should you die for a sentimental attachment to a place, a city, or a building?

That's all I've got to say. Here's to hoping that people CHOOSE to leave NOLA on their own for higher ground. Here's to hoping that folks on the MGC make plans for another 30FT surge. Don't build anything on the shoreline that you can't stand to lose one day.

And if you live in a BOWL, just leave.

[melhow]

How many times has Florida been leveled in that 40 year span?

Which part?

Take your pick!!!

Ok, I'll use Homestead as an example. You know what homestead isn't? It's not below sea-level. It's not a natural swamp (almost, but not quite). It wasn't built on drained land. It's not a sitting duck for repeat avoidable tragedy. Homestead is a swath of Florida that got the tar beat out of it by a direct hit from a Cat 5 Hurricane, not by a Cat 3 side-swipe, and Homestead residents learned from their shortcomings. Homestead residents rebuilt stronger and better. Now, I'm not testifying that Homestead or any other area in FL is impervious to the level of disaster that NO experienced - you never know, however, NO residents will never be able to rebuild stronger because the very foundation that their city is built upon is unstable and incapable of defending itself. The levees are only band-aiding a much larger problem, and that is that much of the city is just not supposed to be there. Nature has a way of correcting those kind of problems.

Now, flamage-dousage -I have to believe that if I were born and raised in NO and loved the city as I am sure anyone from there does and many on this board do, I would probably have a much more emotionally charged and possibly different opinion. It's easy for me to say that I don't believe that much of NO should be rebuilt - I am here in FL with a different set of issues, so understand the above is just my opinion.

[sunny]

First, yes I know where Homestead is. I don't think there is a person in America who doesn't know where Homestead is after Andrew. Secondly, I do understand that Florida is not below sea level. But to say that any place in Florida is not a "sitting duck for repeat avoidable tragedy"? I hope not Mel. Furthermore, I hope we never find out. Just as I hope New Orleans can learn from what we went through and rebuild better in the hopes, JUST LIKE FLORIDA, of avoiding repeat tragedy. Why not give us the same benefit of the doubt that we can learn from what happened?

[MiamiensisWx]

You've nailed it, sunny! A good strategy would be to improve and repair and rebuild the levee system while making it more compatible with nature. You can't fight nature without consequences - both environmental, economic, and human - resulting, so why not design, repair, and rebuild the levee system to work with and blend with nature? It is New Orleans's only hope of long-term safety in a land where coastal erosion has accelerated and where you are below sea level. For example, restore the marshes of coastal Louisiana and Mississippi (including the New Orleans area) by removing things that caused the erosion of these marshes and by restoring existing marshes and rebuilding/adding water treatment/land-reclaiming marshes. On top of that, make the New Orleans levees work with marshes to form a double alliance with nature to prevent a disaster of nature that was once natural when no one was there but now is with the problems, along with coastal erosion. All this would help with flood management and restore the marshes and economy. Everyone might win in at least some way this way. This is how I think New Orleans may be saved. Who agrees?

[sunny]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

[melhow]

First, yes I know where Homestead is. I don't think there is a person in America who doesn't know where Homestead is after Andrew. Secondly, I do understand that Florida is not below sea level. But to say that any place in Florida is not a "sitting duck for repeat avoidable tragedy"? I hope not Mel. Furthermore, I hope we never find out. Just as I hope New Orleans can learn from what we went through and rebuild better in the hopes, JUST LIKE FLORIDA, of avoiding repeat tragedy. Why not give us the same benefit of the doubt that we can learn from what happened?

But why rebuild when it's not solving a problem? You're not learning by simply rebuilding alone. Your just putting something back up where it once stood, only to be washed away (not blown away, which you can defend against) but washed away, because you are living someplace that should be 12 feet under a boat.

[sunny]

First, yes I know where Homestead is. I don't think there is a person in America who doesn't know where Homestead is after Andrew. Secondly, I do understand that Florida is not below sea level. But to say that any place in Florida is not a "sitting duck for repeat avoidable tragedy"? I hope not Mel. Furthermore, I hope we never find out. Just as I hope New Orleans can learn from what we went through and rebuild better in the hopes, JUST LIKE FLORIDA, of avoiding repeat tragedy. Why not give us the same benefit of the doubt that we can learn from what happened?

But why rebuild when it's not solving a problem? You're not learning by simply rebuilding alone. Your just putting something back up where it once stood, only to be washed away (not blown away, which you can defend against) but washed away, because you are living someplace that should be 12 feet under a boat.

Read my post above

[TSmith274]

First, yes I know where Homestead is. I don't think there is a person in America who doesn't know where Homestead is after Andrew. Secondly, I do understand that Florida is not below sea level. But to say that any place in Florida is not a "sitting duck for repeat avoidable tragedy"? I hope not Mel. Furthermore, I hope we never find out. Just as I hope New Orleans can learn from what we went through and rebuild better in the hopes, JUST LIKE FLORIDA, of avoiding repeat tragedy. Why not give us the same benefit of the doubt that we can learn from what happened?

Sunny, you are correct. What Louisiana needs to do is come out with a detailed plan for levees and coastal restoration. Show people that there are solutions. It is apparent that most people are not aware of the solutions that are available to us. Sure it'll be expensive. But Louisiana has a fair plan to pay for it. We just need to get the word out. Solutions do exist to protect this city for the forseeable future.

[sunny]

First, yes I know where Homestead is. I don't think there is a person in America who doesn't know where Homestead is after Andrew. Secondly, I do understand that Florida is not below sea level. But to say that any place in Florida is not a "sitting duck for repeat avoidable tragedy"? I hope not Mel. Furthermore, I hope we never find out. Just as I hope New Orleans can learn from what we went through and rebuild better in the hopes, JUST LIKE FLORIDA, of avoiding repeat tragedy. Why not give us the same benefit of the doubt that we can learn from what happened?

Solutions do exist to protect this city for the forseeable future.

They do exist TSmith!!! And it will happen. Just wait

[MiamiensisWx]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

I agree, sunny! It should be at, or at least very near, the top.

[melhow]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

Honestly, just wondering, is there a time line on this? Are the NOLA residents going to repopulate and rebuild while the barrier islands are being restored? Or should the displaced around the country just hang on and wait until this is done? Who is going to return to a place that is in limbo and unstable and unprepared and vulnerable for years, possibly decades, and who on earth will move there as a new resident?

[sunny]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

Honestly, just wondering, is there a time line on this? Are the NOLA residents going to repopulate and rebuild while the barrier islands are being restored? Or should the displaced around the country just hang on and wait until this is done? Who is going to return to a place that is in limbo and unstable and unprepared and vulnerable for years, possibly decades, and who on earth will move there as a new resident?

Honestly, the time line I've heard is 10 years. Half of the residents of New Orleans have already repopulated the city. The other half would and will when housing is available. The displaced around the country, I cannot answer for them. As far as who is going to return to a place that "is in limbo and unstable and unprepared......", you are talking to one of them! You see, we came home so we COULD rebuild our city. We LOVE our city, and we will fight and do whatever is necessary so that she will be the beautiful proud lady she once was!

[melhow]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

Honestly, just wondering, is there a time line on this? Are the NOLA residents going to repopulate and rebuild while the barrier islands are being restored? Or should the displaced around the country just hang on and wait until this is done? Who is going to return to a place that is in limbo and unstable and unprepared and vulnerable for years, possibly decades, and who on earth will move there as a new resident?

Honestly, the time line I've heard is 10 years. Half of the residents of New Orleans have already repopulated the city. The other half would and will when housing is available. The displaced around the country, I cannot answer for them. As far as who is going to return to a place that "is in limbo and unstable and unprepared......", you are talking to one of them! You see, we came home so we COULD rebuild our city. We LOVE our city, and we will fight and do whatever is necessary so that she will be the beautiful proud lady she once was!

Sun, I hope that the NOLA taxpayers like yourself are ready and able to fund the effort.

[sunny]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

Honestly, just wondering, is there a time line on this? Are the NOLA residents going to repopulate and rebuild while the barrier islands are being restored? Or should the displaced around the country just hang on and wait until this is done? Who is going to return to a place that is in limbo and unstable and unprepared and vulnerable for years, possibly decades, and who on earth will move there as a new resident?

Honestly, the time line I've heard is 10 years. Half of the residents of New Orleans have already repopulated the city. The other half would and will when housing is available. The displaced around the country, I cannot answer for them. As far as who is going to return to a place that "is in limbo and unstable and unprepared......", you are talking to one of them! You see, we came home so we COULD rebuild our city. We LOVE our city, and we will fight and do whatever is necessary so that she will be the beautiful proud lady she once was!

Sun, I hope that the NOLA taxpayers like yourself are ready and able to fund the effort.

We are here aren't we? But hey, we have helped to rebuild several other areas of the country so why shouldn't we be allowed to ask for help in rebuilding our city?

[CajunMama]

You know you stand a much much higher chance of getting in a car wreck than NO does flooding again. Have you quit driving yet?

[gtalum]

Not exactly. New Orleans has a 100% chance of flooding again. It's just a matter of when.

[CajunMama]

No it doesn't. If you say that then you are saying everytime it rains it will flood.

[melhow]

Coastal restoration is very high on the list CVW, I can promise you that. Those barrier islands are what saved New Orleans for years, and that is what we need to help save us in the future. It can, and will be, done!

Honestly, just wondering, is there a time line on this? Are the NOLA residents going to repopulate and rebuild while the barrier islands are being restored? Or should the displaced around the country just hang on and wait until this is done? Who is going to return to a place that is in limbo and unstable and unprepared and vulnerable for years, possibly decades, and who on earth will move there as a new resident?

Honestly, the time line I've heard is 10 years. Half of the residents of New Orleans have already repopulated the city. The other half would and will when housing is available. The displaced around the country, I cannot answer for them. As far as who is going to return to a place that "is in limbo and unstable and unprepared......", you are talking to one of them! You see, we came home so we COULD rebuild our city. We LOVE our city, and we will fight and do whatever is necessary so that she will be the beautiful proud lady she once was!

Sun, I hope that the NOLA taxpayers like yourself are ready and able to fund the effort.

We are here aren't we? But hey, we have helped to rebuild several other areas of the country so why shouldn't we be allowed to ask for help in rebuilding our city?

Huh? It's not like asking for help rebuilding a town hit by a tornado, or a community affected by fire or localized flooding. You are asking people to fund the rebuilding of a city of millions that will more than likely face the same fate again and again and again. Would you invest in a company who goes bankrupt every couple of years? Not me. But like I said, I'm in FL not NOLA, so what do I know...

[sunny]

Wow. I just don't understand all of the doom and gloom! If anyone should feel that it should be us!! And look at us! We are fighting TOOTH AND NAIL and feel like we are getting beat down for doing it every time we turn around! How about a little support here? That would really be a wonderful thing for our morale you know.