[Bernard Marx]

Why are people allowed to build homes and farm in a natural floodplain? If they do it should be entirely at their own risk. This same area flooded in 1927 when the (known) high water mark was set. Big floods happen on a regular basis but people have short memories.

[Kirkwood]

The vast majority of the people directly affected by the Morganza opening choose to live in fishing and hunting camps. For the most part, this part of Louisiana being flooded is uninhabited wetland.

http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/bayou,camp/Recent

These people make a living out in the wild and will return when the water goes down far enough.

A smaller number of homes in outlying incorporated areas such as Morgan City will also be affected, but these homes are being sandbagged. Again, these people know the risks and choose to live there.

[sportutegrl]

Why are people allowed to build homes and farm in a natural floodplain? If they do it should be entirely at their own risk. This same area flooded in 1927 when the (known) high water mark was set. Big floods happen on a regular basis but people have short memories.

It makes no sense at all to farm the blackest soil in the world, especially when it floods two or three times a century. It would probably make much more sense to build cities in that lowland instead.

[ladyjane]

Why are people allowed to build homes and farm in a natural floodplain?

For the same reason they are allowed to build a city below sea level.