Katrina and Rebuilding

Don't make the same mistake

Published on September 6, 2005 By bigjimtx In Current Events

Please, Please, Please rebuild New Orleans on higher ground. Do not spend my tax dollars building dams, levees, retaining walls etc. to combat nature as nature will win EVERY time. SInce we are going to build a new city anyway due to mold and pollution requiring almost total reconstruction lets do the smart thing and build on a better cite. Give them a new city, brand new and safer.

Comments

ParaTed2k

on Sep 06, 2005

There is a good point to that, but then again, how many other cities should we relocate when disaster strikes?

I think we should leave that up to the people of New Orleans... they have more right to decide what should be done with their homes and property than the rest of us. Of course, we all have our opinions and yours is as good as anyone else.

bigjimtx

on Sep 06, 2005

We should relocate them one at a time if they become basically unliveable without massive reconstruction. Although we do continue to build on beaches and sand dunes! My thoughts are build houses where you cannot farm, farm where you can and leave places of known risk alone.

ParaTed2k

on Sep 06, 2005

leave places of known risk alone.

What part of the U.S. is not host to Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Blizards, Floods, Hurricanes or heat or cold waves that claim lives? If you are going to shut down all disaster risk areas, the first thing we need to do is shut down the highways. Don't let anyone near those. ;~D

Dr Guy

on Sep 06, 2005

There is a good point to that, but then again, how many other cities should we relocate when disaster strikes?

Grundy Virginia did (a town of about 8000).

However, if you look at a map, there really is no place to rebuild it other than on the same site.

bigjimtx

on Sep 06, 2005

Known risk is different from no risk. We need to be a bit smarter then 100 years ago when a city was built in a "bowl" below sea level.

ParaTed2k

on Sep 06, 2005

Build smarter I'll agree with! No matter what area you're talking about.

dabe

on Sep 06, 2005

Easier said than done, for sure. The economic incentive to build on the coast, on sand and dunes, is HUGE. As long as Federal Flood Insurance allows for rebuilding, then reinsures the developers, we all pay big time. So, you can only imagine the politics of coastal erosion. I know. I live it. I am a coastal planner.

Sometimes (usually) I say that I hate the politics, but I love being in the fray. It's a tough business for sure.

Having said all that, I completely agree with you. However, New Orleans, in particular, will experience some vast changes. The way I predict it, those who have will rebuild. Those who have more will buy up damaged properties for rebuilding and rebuild. Those who have not have already been bused out of the state. This is going to get very, very ugly. Mark my words.

dabe

on Sep 06, 2005

Known risk is different from no risk. We need to be a bit smarter then 100 years ago when a city was built in a "bowl" below sea level.

I'm not so sure of this statement. If you look at what is higher ground, and what is below sea level, you'd see that the older stuff, ie the French Quarter, did not get significant flooding. They knew back then that it's dumb as dumb gets to build below sea level.

However, as I stated above, as coastal properties became more valuable, and cities grew outward, they built more and more on estuarine deltas, then walled them in. The economic incentive to build along the coast is huge. And, it's not just an ocean coastline. It's also lakes, ponds, seas, rivers, you name it. Waterfront land is very very desirable property.

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