Should New Orleans Be Rebuilt?

[greensideout]

Considering that the city began 300 years ago BELOW SEA LEVEL on the coast, should it be rebuilt or should we learn from the history of today?

[Phantom Blooper]

Yes. Rebuild it and learn from todays history. Do like they did in Venice and turn Bourbon Street into Canal Street and and put the prisoners to building gondolas. When the hurricane of 1900 wiped out Galveston they built the great sea wall around the city. One certainly cannot stop "Mother Natures" fury. But things can be done or should have been done years back to curtail this disater of this magnitude from happening again. Some of those buildings were built on wetlands years ago. A study should be concluded now and let some of the wettlands be in the town and go back a natural state for a semi natural defense against standing water. Little things will help,more than what they have been doing.Nothing... New Orleans has a great population of indigent but it is also a rich city in wealth and culture. So they will rebuild. But they have to do something instead of nothing. IMO

Semper-Fi! "Never Forget" Chuck Hall

[Nagalfar]

Re-Building a coastal city that stands below sea level is my idea of sending good money to save a bad idea, I understand the culture and history, but, to think its not going to happen again would be fool hardy.. another Hurricane or Tsunami will happen again, and as long as there is waether it will continue to happen.. while I give you this, all the construction, and materials and labor involved would be great for our economy, we are the ones who will pay for it.. how many times should we pay for it I guess is the bigger question.. for me it is simple if you live on a flood plain.. expect to be flooded from time to time, if you live in a coastal city that stands BELOW sea level, plan on Hurricanes and flooding.. if you play on the freeway expect to get run over..

[MarineMom5]

OK everybody....if it is coastal land in the United States it will be rebuilt. The majority of the East Coast of the United States, as well as the Gulf Coast, has been hit by hurricanes for several years but everybody rebuilds. Tourism helps but it's mostly because this is what many people call home. If you think that they should not rebuild then you should not rebuild if you are hit by a tornado and live in the midwest, shuttered by an earthquake and live in the west, have an avalanche and live in the mountains, hurricanes on the east coast, tornadoes, droughts blizzards, etc....shall I go on???? It is human nature to endure and overcome the challenges that we are presented with. Nature and Humans are not perfect but we do endure. Yes, New Orleans is under sea level but it has existed for how many years without this devastation.... yet for how many years has the government subsidized farmground that did not produce due to drought or because it was flooded, how many hurricanes have hit Florida and the Carolina's? Should everybody move out of those states or stop growing crops???.... give New Orleans a second chance. She deserves it.

[RLeon]

Originally posted by MarineMom5
OK everybody....if it is coastal land in the United States it will be rebuilt. The majority of the East Coast of the United States, as well as the Gulf Coast, has been hit by hurricanes for several years but everybody rebuilds. Tourism helps but it's mostly because this is what many people call home. If you think that they should not rebuild then you should not rebuild if you are hit by a tornado and live in the midwest, shuttered by an earthquake and live in the west, have an avalanche and live in the mountains, hurricanes on the east coast, tornadoes, droughts blizzards, etc....shall I go on???? It is human nature to endure and overcome the challenges that we are presented with. Nature and Humans are not perfect but we do endure. Yes, New Orleans is under sea level but it has existed for how many years without this devastation.... yet for how many years has the government subsidized farmground that did not produce due to drought or because it was flooded, how many hurricanes have hit Florida and the Carolina's? Should everybody move out of those states or stop growing crops???.... give New Orleans a second chance. She deserves it.
good post...learn and rebuild.

[yellowwing]

Plus rebuilding will really pump up the economy that is about to take a hit. Its has started with gasoline prices.

New Orleans is a major port city. Coffee is about to go through roof. Bananas, and all the other goods coming from South America. Not to mention the losses from exporting to South America.

[Joseph P Carey]

For those that say, Why rebuild? I point to the Netherlands, and say, why not rebuild? We are Americans, and we can do anything we want! And, We can do it better than anyone else!

There are work parties of thousands sitting waiting for buses, and there are prisoners by the hundreds sitting on I-10. Why are they not Pressed into service as laborers and send them to plug the holes in the dikes with shovels if nothing else? Give each able bodied man a large rock, or a sand bag, and fill that hole. China built great dams with just human work forces, and with no machines.

Why have not the authorities declared Marshal Law and shot the gangsters like dogs that roam the streets highjacking cars, and raping women, and shooting at the helicopters that are trying to save people's lives? No warning, no request for surrender, just shoot the bastards. The world would be better off if they ended this way, and, if they are wounded, shoot them again. They are not worth the cost of medicine to keep them alive.

Yeah! I would probably be sentenced to jail in the aftermath of the destruction, if I were in charge, and I did the things I advocate, but I would go there willingly, knowing that I did the right thing.

[Mastergunz G]

Are you kidding me JP CAREY! Put those people to WORK? Haven't you been watching the news? WHat is the common theme from everyone; why isn't the government helping me? This is the product of welfare, they want all they can get, but don't want to work for it!
I hate the suffering going on there, but is it any worse than Rwanda or the Sudan? Maybe now Americans will see what those people have suffered through for years. And yet, nowhere near the lawlessness that we see in New Orleans!
Frigging incredibile!!!

[mrbsox]

A question no one (I know of ) has asked is;

WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL OF THE DEBRIS ??

Burn the wood ??
The EPA and others will have a field day about global warming.
How about mulch. Sell it all across the country.

The concret ??
Rebuild the levee's with it. Thicker and higher. Sea walls, reefs, etc.

Lots of stuff can be recycled... plastic, glass, paper, wiring from houses.

You can salvage... engines, car parts, boat parts,

Yhea, they'll rebuid. And we'll go down there and PARTY. It's the American way.

Terry.

[HardJedi]

of course rebuild. what are we gonna do? just let a city lie in ruins forever? all those people just gonna wander homless? of course they would eventually find new places to live, but it would take time to find new jobs, new schools, new homes. ( not that is won't take time to rebuild as well)


and of course, we never seem to learn MUCH from history. so of coourse we will rebuild. ( and probably still make the same mistakes again)

[johndavidkeller]

I would suggest those property owners who collect their insurance proceeds invest in rebuilding the city. There should be little need to use taxpayers FEDERAL money except for those funds earmarked already for levee engineering. I would furthur suggest that they re-invent the city from 9 feet below sea level and build it up as an "island" city. Bring in additional fill, completely elevate the old city boundaries and rise ABOVE sea level by at least 20 feet to insure a few hundred years of life out of the new construction.

Or, an alternative would be to elevate the city into two major island sections, with a large Canal splitting the city from the Lake to the River to avoid future flooding.

Again, I would emphasize using the billions of insurance dollars that cover the property now, and not use Federal money to replace a flood prone city.

[jgorosco]

Has anyone heard of the Hurricane that came through Galveston in the early 1900's that killed 6,000 people. The hurricane wiped out all of Galveston. Galveston is located SE of Houston. They rebuilt and along with that they raised the city 17ft to prevent flooding. I know Galveston Island my not be as big as New Orleans but if they could do it back then, then we should have no problems with New Orleans. God Bless our CORPS and Country!!

SEMPER FI
IYAOYAS

[greensideout]

This same question came up on a talking heads show on TV a day or so after this thread was started. It was interesting that the comments were much like those here. Thoughts and feeling that were on both sides. Both have merit in the discussion but I cannot see rebuilding a city that can have a repeat of this storm. We have already lost the culture that was once there and it cannot be regained. Some things cannot be replaced. It's time to move to highter ground!

[lurchenstein]

The city of New Orleans is already planning a scaled-down version of Mardis Gras. Seems to me they're hell-bent to rebuild.
In my opinion, as they rebuild, the people of New Orleans should resolve the flood control problems that have been evident for years and the welfare system. Otherwise, it will be setting the stage for another disaster.

By the way, anyone know where they moved HQ 4th MAW?
It was located on Dauphine St. before "Katrina" hit.

[dcline]

We spent 15billion to put 1 1/2 miles of highway underground in Massachusetts and it leeks like a sieve. When they say it will cost 100billion to rebuild I just shake my head in disgust. It would be cheaper to make the gulf coast a sea port only and redevelop resident housing on higher grounds to the north. Just think the largest sea port in the world could be flatted by a hurricane in the not so distant future.

[Joseph P Carey]

With all due respect, D Cline, I agree with you! The 'Big Hole' was not needed; it just lined the pockets of some very hungry politicians, including one that ran for President, while the Port of New Orleans is needed to line the stomachs of everyday Americans.

But, for the amount of times the Port of New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast, has been knocked down, and rebuilt, and the amount of products it brings into this country, it is worth every dollar we spend on it. The 'Big Hole', we can not say the same of!

I do agree that housing should not be built for people's housing, or for businesses, in the flood plain, and with Eminent Domain, the houses should be plowed under, and the area above it should be filled with dredge from Lake Pontchartrain, to bring the land area up, and the lake area down, but wait until the ACLU gets their hands in this matter to see what happens next, not to mention Jessie Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton. The Democrats will cry foul and racism until their throats hurt!

[greensideout]

The Governor called for the people to return to New Orleans.
The President called for the rebuilding of New Orleans.

Well, here we go again to learn a lesson. Hello! Should we be expected, as tax payers to rebuild a sump hole that is flooding again and will again and again?

[benny rutledge]

New Orleans is the Busiest (tonnage wise) port in the United States. New Orleans Barge and boat traffic is critical to the US GNP.Rebuild the Port facilities for sure.

[junker316]

A question no one (I know of ) has asked is;

WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL OF THE DEBRIS ??

Burn the wood ??
The EPA and others will have a field day about global warming.
How about mulch. Sell it all across the country.

The concret ??
Rebuild the levee's with it. Thicker and higher. Sea walls, reefs, etc.

Lots of stuff can be recycled... plastic, glass, paper, wiring from houses.

You can salvage... engines, car parts, boat parts,

Yhea, they'll rebuid. And we'll go down there and PARTY. It's the American way.

Terry.

there are alot of good ideas here. I think of the history that Orleans has and it has been a big part of our country for other reasonsas well...like Mardi Gras. So rebuild and enjoy.

[Ed Palmer]

Now let me tell you something The Goverment caused my house to blow away (or float )and now your telling me you want ME to go to WORK man you have to be out of yore cotton pickin mind Besides I is on welfare yaal.

Now if you dont belive this just go down there and ask about half of them

[yellowwing]

Some may have heard this from me before. In 2001, I spent 8 months in New Orleans.

In all of my travels I have seen no other city like The Big Easy. To tell the truth its not really an American City. It really is an International Icon.

But it is one of Our Cities. We would rebuild Des Moines, Knoxville, Lubbock, Scranton, or Aurora if they suffered the same fate.

I met many people of all classes when I was there. They are truly good people. Everyday you could feel the goodwill and general happiness. Sure, every once in a while you could get a whiff of the hoodlums, especially if you frequented the rough neighborhoods.

We all saw what happened when the Good Will evacuated and the Hoodlums had free reign. The valiant NOPD that remained on the job should all be decorated.

When the news clips showed the tireless Coast Guard, I recognized every neighborhood. God Bless the Coasties!

Excercise Eminent Domain for better levees, by all means go ahead. Do it now and do it right. But dammit do something!

[junker316]

As rutledge put it " it is one of the busiest " and needed for US GNP. But there is more to it than that. It is an International Hot Spot. It is a Tourist MECCA. The people there, when I was there in 1996, are generally helpful and courteous. We shouldn't let a place like this go because of Leves that failed or because of money hungry politians. We shouldn't turn a blind eye from a place that holds more history in it than most other cities in the US. So rebuild the Levees higher and better. Make the Government in charge there show reciepts for thier purchases if need be. It isn't the fault of the people there that the Levee commity failed them. The Government failed them. Or that any-one failed them. Help the City throughth is and every other place that was damaged from the Hurricane. Every place has people living there because they chose to. It is the people that make the area not the area that makes the people.

[greensideout]

I have read that the levees cannot be built higher or thicker because the ground that they are on will not support the weight.
For those of you that say rebuild, tell me an economic way to do that. I still do not see a reason, (one that would work) to rebuild the sump hole in it's current location.

[Joseph P Carey]

I have read that the levees cannot be built higher or thicker because the ground that they are on will not support the weight.
For those of you that say rebuild, tell me an economic way to do that. I still do not see a reason, (one that would work) to rebuild the sump hole in it's current location.

GSO,

There is a team in NO right now that says the water going over the top was not the problem. They found the water line in the houses to be two foot below the height of the levee's height, which means my original assessment of the wall crumbling is more prone to be correct, rather than spilage over the top. Even from photos of the water flowing into the city, the top of the wall can still be seen clearly. I still say it was a government bid construction job where LA Politicians and NO Politicians lined their pockets with Federal Dollars.