Researchers Say Levees Had Design Flaws

[FVZA_Colonel]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051101/ap_on_re_us/katrina_levee_probe_4;_ylt=AgD0UYtagktCWgzEjjldv7MbLisB;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Researchers Say Levees Had Design Flaws
By BRETT MARTEL, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 28 minutes ago

NEW ORLEANS - The engineers who designed the floodwalls that collapsed during Hurricane Katrina did not fully consider the porousness of the Louisiana soil or make other calculations that would have pointed to the need for stronger levees with deeper pilings and wider bases, researchers say.

At least one key scenario was ignored in the design, say the researchers, who are scheduled to report their findings at a congressional hearing Wednesday: the possibility that canal water might seep into the dirt on the dry side of the levees, thereby weakening the embankment holding up the floodwalls.

"I'd call it a design omission," said Robert Bea, a University of California at Berkeley civil engineering professor who took part in the study for the National Science Foundation.

The research team found other problems in the city's flood-control system, including evidence of poor maintenance and confusion over jurisdiction.

[Ian David]

1. Still more evidence that the levees needed funding

See Michael Moore's new film about "Operation: Drown The Negroes."

New Michael Moore film: "Katrina: The Wrath of Bush"
Posted by calmblueocean
Added to homepage Tue Nov 01st 2005, 01:49 PM ET

Debuting in May 2006 at Cannes.



Website at http://www.wrathofbush.com , mini Flash promo at http://www.wrathofbush.com/flash-01.php .

I wonder how this will ultimately tie-in with Fahrenheit 9/11½?

Discuss this topic (63 responses)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2208961

[rocktivity]

2. The levees' biggest design flaw

is that they were defunded before they were completed.

:headbang:
rocknation

[99Pancakes]

3. It's been discussed for years.

We knew that New Orleans could go under water with a major hurricane. I remember watching something on TV.The experts all knew.
No one in a position dealing with those levees should be surprised.

[FloridaPat]

4. Same people must have done the design for Tampa's CrossTown

They are building a road above the four lanes that go into Tampa from the east. So the road is on pilings and had been finished about 50% last year. Someone felt that the pilings really didn't need to go down to bedrock. Luckily about 1/4 mile of the new road came falling down before any cars were on it. Now they have to redo all those pilings.

[stepnw1f]

5. Gee Thanks... DUH!

All this after years of asking, no begging for funding?!

[daleo]

6. Driving pilings into peat seems like too basic a mistake

To really be a design flaw. More likely, it was shoddy work, cutting corners, and corruption at multiple levels.

[Endangered Specie]

7. Hindsight...

you can only do so much with so much money

(and hello, they DID say the levees wouldnt hold for a cat 4 did they not?!)

[merwin]

8. Duplicate from the 15th

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1851273