What would happen if another major hit NOLA?

[micktooth]

My family and I moved from NOLA after Katrina. We still have a lot of family down there. Obviously, New Orleans is far from restored. I was wondering what you all think would happen if another major storm hit the region. I'm not talking about storm damage but the economic damage? Do you think the rest of the country would continue to send money to the region? Do you think NOLA would economically survive? As a past resident, I must say that I don't think the city would be able to recover from another impact so soon after Katrina. What are your thoughts?

[Praxus]

In that case, I would think the time would come to go with the reality that NO is in an untenable situation and abandon the city. 1/3 of residents haven't come back anyways...

[patk_62]

I hate being sucked into these discussion but feel this needs a response.

What if....
Another earth quake hit San Francisco or L.A.?
Another hurricane hit Miami or Tampa Bay?
Another Flood hit's the Miss. River Valley?
Another Terrorist attack hits any American city?

I won't defend our ridiculous politicians down here but I will defend the people. There are hundreds of thousands of people like me who didn't rely on government help at all. So don't assume that the entire region is made up of people who need government to bail us out. That being said, when and if the people of the USA decide to abandon one of their cities (for whatever reason) it's time to re-think what we are as a nation. Any day, any time, any one of our Cities may find itself in need after a catastrophe.

As far as economics, the region will only recover if we can correct the political mess down here. Forget natural disasters, there are many people here doing quite well economically regardless of storms. It's a deeper problem than simply hurricanes and if the Feds pump enough money in. Perhaps if more people learned more about the area other than the 9th ward we might get a bit more respect, but alas that will never happen.

[Praxus]

Are any of those other cities largely below sea level?

[TSmith274]

Can't really add too much to the above post. I personally think that New Orleans would be ok. St Bernard and Plaquemines parish, however, would once again get wiped out.

As far as "1/3 of the people have left anyway"... that's just Orleans Parish. And even though 1/3 of people have left, that is not to say that they aren't fighting like hell to come back. We are gaining around 2,500 people per month consistently. Also, New Orleans is not just Orleans Parish. It is a multi-parish metro area that was near 1.4 million prior to the storm. Today, we are right at 1.2 million metro.

If this country does decide to wash its hands of this city, just sell us to the highest bidder. I guarantee that you'd get lots of offers. New Orleans has existed under the rule of 3 different countries. If our only option is to abandon the place, I'd be all for trying a 4th.

[micktooth]

I never said NOLA shouldn't be rebuilt. I lived there for 20 years and my wife's family still lives there. We had to leave due to medical needs for our daughter. I know what it's like to live there. My question was really for people that don't live there. Would they continue to support the region's regrowth? Sure we can ask questions about other cities, but being a tropical forum, I will stick to tropical issues. Can the region sustain another hit? I don't know. I do know that the local populace is trying like heck to rebuild better than ever. I think it's great. But I also know there is lack of adequate leadership, lack of a lot of major businesses and a tremendous racial divide. A previous poster said New Orleans is actually the whole region, geographically I would agree, but not politically. People in St Tamany and Jefferson constantly talk about Orleans Parish like it's not part of the region. Until the area really acts as a cohesive region, I do not think it will come back strong. Right now the only thing that is entirely supported by the whole region is the football team.

[jrod]

Don't forget that Katrina did not directly hit NO directly and it was on the left side, the generally weaker side of the storm. A direct hit by a major hurricane would be catostophic to the city, much more than Katrina was.

[TSmith274]

I hear ya. The problem is that you are asking two different questions. One is directly related to the political and cultural situation in New Orleans. That is a question that 99% of the people on this board could not answer. The other is one best suited for hydrologists and civil engineers, which is my career. We are in a bad situation with our politics. The local leadership tends to exaserbate the supposed racial divide in this city... one that is no worse than anywhere else in this country. But unfortunately, some local politicians pit the races against each other. And in a city that is majority black, it works for some of them. It gets them re-elected. Does anyone actually think that Ray Nagin's "chocolate city" speech wasn't carefully calculated? Of course it was. He was re-elected by instilling a fear that black dominance in local politics and control of the city was in jeopardy. It's the same old song and verse from our politicians. And since it is easy for them to get on national television with their comments, it is no wonder that this country thinks we have a racial problem. Providing an excellent education for inner city blacks would only jeopardize the political fiefdoms in this city... organizations like LIFE and BOLD, etc... They are feeding from the public trough, and are ensured re-election by pandering to a downtrodden crossection of this city... promising them the world and delivering nothing.

In my opinion, with race relations, the opposite is true. We are a very diverse city, and have been for hundreds of years. We have a proud history of tolerance, but that has been lost to the outside world because of the pitting that goes on in our politics. While the outside world sees only that... we still live next to each other and love it. It is what makes New Orleans... New Orleans. New Orleans was home to more free blacks than any city in this country during that dark time in our country's history. From poets to artists to musicians to businessmen... it was the only city in America that allowed blacks to gather in public squares... the only city that allowed public musical performances by African Americans... we are home to this country's first large middle class black neighborhood... Treme. What is the biggest crime is that black New Orleanians have a proud history here... one of which they should be very proud. While not a perfect place, it was always a place of tolerance. If you could have been with me last night watching Rebirth Brass Band play at the Maple Leaf Bar in uptown New Orleans, you would see what New Orleans really is. The crowd, as it always is, was roughly half white and half black... enjoying uniquely New Orleans music together and having a damn good time. It's the same thing we always do here... but focusing on things like that don't get you re-elected here. Fear and rumor get you re-elected here, and it has to change. That said, I think it is changing.

From an engineering standpoint, much more has to be done to protect the city. But it can be done. I could get into specifics, but I think I have probably bored yall to death already. Sorry for the long post.