Enviro-fascist effect upon NO levee failure

It's my recollection that the enviro-fascists have spent the past 40 years blocking the US Army Corps of Engineers from reinforcing the levees in New Orleans. I do not have access to the documentation but clearly remember the more militant tree-huggers trying to defund the Corps of Engineers year after year in order to "save the environment for the lesser tree fart frog" and other such species. Well, we've seen the result of their efforts.

This is from the City Of New Orleans Emergency Preparedness : Hurricanes: http://www.cityofno.com/SystemModules/PrintPage.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26

Note the relative location of environmental concerns to thou of the levees....

ANNEX I: HURRICANES

MITIGATION (PHASE IV)

City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

I. GENERAL

Mitigation includes those activities, policies or programs developed and adopted by government officials which will reduce, eliminate, or alleviate damage caused by disasters. Proper and coordinated planning is a prerequisite to effective and efficient procedural changes required in addressing hazard mitigation. The City of New Orleans currently participates in, or has commenced the initial stages of several programs intended to reduce the risk to lives and to minimize damage to public and private properties.

II. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS

Mitigation programs include coordinated city, state and federal efforts that are currently in place, such as the National Flood Insurance Program, or future actions designed to reduce the loss of life and extensive property damage.

A. National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

The City of New Orleans is a participant in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The City's participation is conducted by the City Planning Commission (CPC). Citizens may receive information as to the NFIP rating of their properties at the City Hall (CPC) office. As much of the development now in place in New Orleans was developed prior to adoption of NFIP standards and rating zones, it is anticipated that should a major hurricane strike our area, that many structures, both private and public, would have to be rebuilt or replaced by structures meeting NFIP standards.

B. Future Plans

Future mitigation plans include:

1. Drainage network management.

2. Protection of wetlands and marshes.

3. Floodplain management.

4. Preservation of the levee system.

5. Providing hurricane shelter.

6. Restricting imprudent development.

7. Mitigation actions following natural disasters and post?disaster plan development.

"Atchafalaya Basin" is the phrase you want to look for. It isn't the Environmental Whackos trying to protect the Mississippi ~ rather, they are trying to protect the Atchafalaya basin from becoming the new route of the Mississippi river. They wish to keep this as a cypress swamp full of fuzzy birds and squeaky frogs.

It's because of them that New Orleans will continue to be subject to devastating floods from now far into the future.

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