Protecting New Orleans to cost billions

The Associated Press ^ | September 17, 2005 | Matt Crenson

[gpapa]

AP) — All it takes is cash and time. Given enough money, engineers agree that they could eventually build a system of levees and other flood control structures sufficient to protect New Orleans from another Katrina or even a stronger hurricane. But it would cost billions, and the work might not be completed for up to 30 years. The question is, and always has been, how much the federal government is willing to pay for that protection.

[ChefKeith]

how much the federal government U.S. Taxpayer is willing to pay for that protection.

[Mike Darancette]

Being a firm believer in States Rights I would ask how much NOLA is willing to pay?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Like Pat Buchanan said, the corruption from this is going to make the Iraq Oil-for-Food scandal look like shoplifting!

[burzum]

Step 1: Build floodgates on the canals! This would vastly reduce the surface area that would be needed to be protected. Then only build to Cat 5 on the Lake Pontchartrain and perhaps Miss. River side. There is no need to build the canals to Cat 5 strength when you can close them off.

[Cobra64]

how much the federal government U.S. Taxpayer is willing to pay for that protection.

I agree. I'm inclined to "get outta Dodge" and let Louisiana deal with the issue. Why put band-aides on a limb that has gangrene?

[burzum]

Step 2: Build floodgates to Lake Pontchartrain. Then you can close it off during a hurricane. This was proposed before but killed by environmentalists.

The distance across the connection here is only about 750 feet.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

Think I read there are over 300 miles of levees presently surrounding New Orleans.

[ChefKeith]

And Lord knows how many other diseases and scum (aside from the politicians)

[GregoryFul]

Now look, the eastern seaboard is threatened by a volcano in the Canary Islands - La Palma

I think that the Feds should build a seawall 200 foot high along the Atlantic seacoast to protect us. Should only cost a couple hundred trillion!

[Squantos]

I was told last year by my insurance agent that if I wanted "mold" coverage I'd have to pay extra as in Texas we weren't covered anymore due the high risk of mold damage.

I would suppose that if I lived in a flood, hurricane, mold region that my "individual" costs would be higher also ....maybe I can see if Uncle Sugar will cover my lack of personal responsibility if I so choose to not pay the extra for that risk on my dwelling....... :o)

[ChefKeith]

Isn't it fairly low humidity up that way in your part of the state?

[Squantos]

Oh yeah but my point is that if the risk is high etc etc....

[ChefKeith]

Yeah, but since when did ins co's ever care about the client or how much they charge us?

[ArmyTeach]

Dunno. Don't pay too much attention to me. But I visualize 1)restoring the historical districts insofar as they are maintainable above flood level (I love history) 2)Moving residential areas to a flood-safe area, private and public enterprise 3)allowing a consortium of private interests to expand the harbor of New Orleans so that instead of the 5th largest worldwide (impressive in itself) it becomes the world's preeminent commercial harbor. Dream on... (Do people actually have to live in NO?)

[Hank Rearden]

how much the U.S. Taxpayer is willing to pay for that protection.

We don't get to decide. We get to pay. Parasite politicians from the Republican and 'Rat parties get to decide. And they always (especially the Republicans) decide to spend more, and more, and more, and more . . . . .

[Squantos]

I believe they care more than anything as to how much they charge us....called more profit IMO.

[paix]

They never should have done what they did in the first place and now want to redo the mistakes all over again, albiet in an enlightened 21st century way? Right!

Having a port, shipping canal and small city is one thing, surrounding it by slums and protecting them is folly.

There's a reason way the French Quarter wasn't flooded; it was built on higher ground.

Why try to tame nature, in this case the Mississippi River, and just live with it and build around it?

[ChefKeith]

Sounds like a better plan than what bush has. After all the place is just a semi-drained swamp at best!