The pumps in N.O. have never been capable of preventing the city from flooding. The pumps get overwhelmed by severe rainstorms routinely, and areas of the city flood. The pumping stations then remedy the flooding, but they cannot prevent it.
This was certainly true when we lived there. It didn't take a lot of rain before we almost needed a pirogue to get where we needed to go!
"The pumps in N.O. have never been capable of preventing the city from flooding. The pumps get overwhelmed by severe rainstorms routinely, and areas of the city flood. The pumping stations then remedy the flooding, but they cannot prevent it."
I read on another thread this a.m. that Sen Landrieu was blaming the Federal gov't for the pumps and levies not being able to handle the water---they hadn't been updated in a long time, yada yada yada (as I recall, something to the effect that money wasn't provided, etc., etc.)
I'd like to remind Ms Landrieu that she and Sen Breaux (both Dims) have *supposed* to be representing the fine people of LA for a number of years and therefore, they are both part of that Fed Gov't (not just the Bush admin). In addition, with all the pork and crapola that goes in the appropriations bills each year, don't you think that at least 1 of them would have included funds for the pumps and levies if they felt they were needed????? It is not up to the Pres to be a mind-reader and determine what is needed in every state - if they didn't ask him and/or add the $s in via an amendment to the budget, she has no one to blame, except herself (and possibly Breaux - though, from all appearances, he seems to be a fairly decent guy for a Dim).