[Sunnyflorida]

Charley report:

I'd say about 10% of the houses destroyed in Charley have yet to come down. There are hundreds of houses with blue traps. On my block 2 out of ten did not get full roof replacements. Of those four are still waiting for materials or labor. About 80% of downtown commercial was destroyed. There are two buildings under construction. Most of the street lights that came down are still down. Churches and schools ditto.

Levees: I am of the view that any thing that man makes can break. Therefor the levee system needs redundancy like they have in Holland. This means a radically different land use plan for NOLA. That is what needs to come first: a better land use plan. Better codes. I really doubt the local government has the courage to do it, but the mortgage lenders and the insurance companies can force their. The feds (i.e. HUD) needs to not wilt under the pressure to put back public or subsidized housing sub-code.

[dirtboy]

This means a radically different land use plan for NOLA.

For the sections well below sea level, let me suggest a designation of "lake".

There is land above sea level west of town. Rebuild there. Put two levees around the French Quarter and downtown and areas still above sea level. Bulldoze the rest and let nature take its course.