[RockinRight]

Would it be faster to rebuild the city upstream than where it is??

Think of all the construction jobs...

[Lurking in Kansas]

...rebuild the city upstream...

Where? Just move it to Baton Rouge.

[ZULU]

It certainly would be SMARTER, wouldn't it?

I doubt if thre is any ambiance left to salvage at the old site.

[AD from SpringBay]

Would it be faster to rebuild the city upstream than where it is?

This is a real, actualized loss. And I've read a number of folks ask the same question you've asked. And it could be a good idea except for the fact that the land upstream is probably already owned by someone. And there are tens of thousands who own property that is currently under water. I can't imagine a way to fairly rebuild upstream - especially in the entitlement world of today - without someone sustaining the losses that have already occurred. Either the people who have lost everything will start from scratch, the people who own the land upstream might get shafted, or the good old American taxpayer will have to pay. This is just not a fair situation, but I don't know that spreading the unfairness among more people is the way to go. And, no, I don't have any bright ideas or solutions. This situation just sucks.

[RobbyS]

"Upstream" meaning building up at Baton Rouge?

[sit-rep]

Would not risk my tools being stolen...would not even think of going down there from what I have seen so far. I don't care if they offer me my 32.50 an hour. Give me time and a 1/2 and double time after forty.

This would happen in any major city across the board. It disgusts me. And not one black lib is saying anything about it, which in turn tells me they condone it.

[SF Republican]

Think of all the construction jobs... my brother lives in Vero Beach, hard hit by last years "events" you cannot find a contractor at any price for the most part, as far as supplies forget it for years.

[ncountylee]

How far north to be reasonably high ground?

[From The Deer Stand]

Good point. Or, rebuild in the same below-sea-level spot and wait for the next category 4 or 5 storm to devastate the city all over again.

[11th_VA]

Think of all the construction jobs...

And the illegals ...

[george wythe]

A poster on another thread wrote about Galveston suffering a similar tragedy with a hurricane in 1900. The city of Galveston brought in dirt and raised the city ground level to 15 feet about the sea level.

Perhaps New Orleans can consider filling out the bowl where it is located and rebuilding at a higher elevation.

[fortunecookie]

It's an absolute disaster on so many levels, but especially in regards to the rising numbers of lives lost. I, too, keep saying, rebuild, but further inland. Higher ground.

Think of all the construction jobs...

And all the economies that go with it.

[VeniVidiVici]

Think of all the construction jobs...

My first thought too!!! All those folks getting good paying construction jobs to help rebuild their city.

Then reality hit me and I realized that being a deeply BLUE Democrat city, the unions will be the ones to get the jobs and the payoffs will be deep.

The locals will suck wind.

[Salvation]

I thought of that same idea.

[Doohickey]

They've got this little place called "Baton Rouge" about 80 miles upstream.

[floriduh voter]

It would be faster and safer to build upstream imo. Here's a link to many links about Katrina including for people looking for people.

http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Hurricanes_and_Tropical_Storms

[Godebert]

Would it be faster to rebuild the city upstream than where it is??

I reckon some folks already own the land "upstream".

[nmh]

I hope they don't rebuild in New Orleans.

We need to learn from this and STOP building again and again on these devastation prone areas - certainly one way BELOW sea level. It's the breaking of the levees that did them in, not the hurricane. Eventually it's going to happen again. It's not right for others to have to pick up the tab, again and again for defiance of reality.