Engineers worry about New Orleans levees

[cal04]

The head of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conceded Saturday that despite aggressive efforts to repair the levee system in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, it was unclear whether the it could hold up to a sizable hurricane this year.

Lt. General Carl Strock, the commander of the Corps, said the agency was carefully tracking Tropical Storm Ernesto, which was spinning in the Caribbean and projected to reach hurricane strength by Tuesday.

He was confident the Corps had done all it could to repair and reinforce 220 miles of levee walls, but he conceded he couldn't be sure whether the system would withstand Ernesto if reached Category 3 status and struck near New Orleans, as Katrina did Aug. 29, 2005.

Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who appeared at a news conference with Strock, said her office was carefully watching the storm and would order evacuations it they became necessary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060826/ap_on_re_us/new_orleans_levees

[mike_c]

1. we will likely abandon New Orleans in the coming decades....

Unless the gov't-- and ultimately the taxpayers-- are willing to fund a complete redesign and rebuild of the levee system, starting essentially from scratch and building a much more extensive system than currently exists. The sea level will rise over the next several decades as polar ice melts. My gut feeling is that the process will accelerate and happen much faster than current predictions anticipate, but even if it doesn't the strain on the levee system will increase tremendously, and storms are likely to intensify at the same time. Frankly, I think the real focus is going to be on whether we can save cities like Charleston, Miami, and Galveston. New Orleans is just going to be too vulnerable, IMO.

[Solo_in_MD]

4. It may well be the pragmatic thing to do

I know that will annoy many, but with NO, the right thing may well be to compensate the people and move on.

[mike_c]

6. my real point is that what ultimately happens to NO...

...is not likely to be a strictly political decision, but as you suggested, the only "pragmatic" course. Katrina is likely to be only the first in a series of disasters that are utterly predictable, so we will have to face the issue of whether to adequately prepare for those disasters, at enormous cost, or whether to make an informed decision to abandon the city.

Here's the real kicker-- like the global climate change that will ultimately threaten many U.S. cities, we can predict today that NO faces a very dubious future because of human disruption of planetary climate cycles. We know that right now. We know that no stopgap solution will work-- shoring up the levees, repairing the existing levee system-- will not save NO. So the time to think about this and make the decision is NOW, not 20 years from now when the effects will be even more socially devastating. We need to be thinking WAY PAST the response to Katrina. Katrina was just a wakeup call.

[uppityperson]

2. could be an interesting couple months coming up. Best of luck to all

Then there is next yr, and the next...

[hedgehog]

3. The worst part that no one is talking about is the acerage of

wetlands that Katrina took out last year. Those wetlands help protect New Orleans from the full brunt of a storm surge and now they're gone.

[acmavm]

5. Why does no one look at what the Dutch have done with their little

country? NO could be reclaimed. It would take work, money, and technology of the type the Dutch have developed.

[Amonester]

7. Yeah, but the work, money, and technology needed R all just...

squandered in favor of a New Iran-satellite "government" by a bunch of insensitive, non-caring criminal liars (PNAC), for the sole purpose of ever enriching their already filthy rich contributors and members of the Bush / Cheney / Rumsfeld / Lieberman & Co inner circles right now.

And no changes R in sight for the next 29 months (at the very least, unless...).

[Hardrada]

8. That's true.

The Dutch have dealt with this for centuries now.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. Maybe they should USE their being below sea level like Venice does

.
.
.

Water roadways, gondolas and so on . .

Concrete one story buildings etc., seeing that NO is in Hurricane Alley . . .

But that almost makes too much sense . . .

But ya gotta remember . .

Ya can't fight Momma Nature forever

SHE always wins . . . .

[krispos42]

10. We can do it, but we have to rethink

Definately new, high quality levees with plenty of pumps. Definately build the houses with the 1st floor the garage or carport, so that flooding won't reach the living spaces. Keep the wetlands vibrant to absorbe the storm surge.

And why you're at it, install solar panels to help the electrical grid. Solar heat exhangers to heat water for the plumbing system and heating system. Heavy insulation and efficient A/C systems to limit power consumption. Hell, it's hot and sunny there, so let's use it!

And fund the damn levee maintenence projects!

[BushOut06]

11. Haven't the levees done more harm than good?

Maybe the levees are good for the people living in New Orleans, but everything I've heard says the levees have devastated the surrounding environment, playing havoc with the Mississippi Delta region. I'm sure that there are some on here who are more knowledgable on this topic, and could elaborate.