For converstaions sake, I'd suggest raising the level of NO as part of the rebuilding process. Bringing in mass amounts of earth to shore up NO, would reduce the dependency on the levies.
I'd also suggest a building code that would see most houses and businesses withstand a sustained 150 MPH wind.
Storm surge would be another vital issue that would have to be addressed.
I'd suggest zoning regulations that would see very little shipping containers left in coastal areas for any length of time. Build a quick method of moving the imports away from the port area almost immediately after it's offloaded.
I believe that a well designed berm configuration would allow shipping containers to be shielded from the brute force of the winds.
In short, a number of creative ideas could be incorporated to make NO and many other coastal communities a lot safer than they have been.
While I generally hate commissions, I'd like to see a community planning commission set up, made up of engineers and city planners, that could address and remedy many of the problems that cropped up during this hurricane. A number of coastal areas would benefit from the ideas studied and incorporated by such a group of people.
Geology rules.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
You do realize that you're talking in terms of reinforced concrete?
I think if you could divert a branch of the Mississippi to West Texas up to New Mexico it might solve that drought problem there and as a bonus, make it harder for illegals to enter the US?
I can dream, can't I?