American Society of Civil Engineers report, N Orleans

not there? hmmm. I think the idea has merit. Forget the levee business and don't build where you are bound to get smeared all over the place by a hurricane.

the USA."

The central US used to handle everything the weather threw at it without damage - because there was no one there to be damaged. The Mississippi valley has been paved, developed and contained until it can't handle a fraction of the rain and snow melt it used to. The natives had portable housing or built their longhouses well away from known floods.

Poor choices, and we didn't realize we were making them at the time.

... have mentioned that the traditional earthen levees fared better than the barrier wall variety in resisting failure. Of course a traditional levee is far from building friendly in a crowded neighborhood in that it takes up a great deal of space. Other reports I viewed stated that the high storm surge was partly due to the destruction of wetlands... miles of which used to stand between NO and open waters. My understanding was that these wetlands acted like a large sponge and soaked up much of the sea surge before it could travel inland.

The specifications of increasing/improving evacuation routes is very sensible along with building tall to anticipate flooding. It is no mistake or happenstance that the older parts of the city like the French Quarter remained relatively unscathed.

It would seem that NO was never meant to be as large a city as man has tried to build it up to be. Angeline is correct in that we could take a lesson from the Dutch if we wished to. The difference being the Dutch have built their levee systems from necessity. I doubt the US or Louisiana has the same will because there is no necessity on our part to reclaim the sea for living space.

grim

I live downstream from the Wolf Creek Dam, which is leaking. Of course, it is concrete, and looks great. But it's leaking from underneath as the soil is eroding from underneath. It's over 50 years old.

There is another dam between us, which is about 30 years old. if the Wolf Creek Dam goes, however, this dam couldn't handle the rush of water. This street would be inundated though we are on a high bluff.

We are told to have a "plan". So I have important papers and photos in easy -to- get-out-of-the house containers. There would be time to pack some clothing, medications, dog food, etc.

'Course, those without pick up trucks will rent some U-Hauls. But everybody will be so busy loading up, we won't have much help. I know some folks that won't get flooded will want to help. But they might be at work or out of town.

Somebody here once commented how foolish it is to live on a waterway. But most sections of the country have their own risks.

In the meantime, the announcement will come over the weather alert radio.

Congress did approve some money for repair work. Repairs are expected to take 7 years. Seems like they will put concrete under the dirt. In the meantime, some marine businesses along the river at Wolf Creek are upset because they lowered the water level to take off some strain, and want the government to lengthen the boat ramps. They are.

Angeline
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There are other cities that depend on levees for protection. Sacramento and and San Francisco in California come to mind.
Then there was Grand Forks, North Dakota where in 1997 the levees failed and inundated 80% of the town, basically destroying it.

concrete. They have better stuff, now.

Original reason for levees along the river

After a devastating flood [pg 2 of Nat Geographic article] in 1927, levees were raised along the river and lined with concrete, effectively funneling the marsh-building sediments to the deep waters of the Gulf. Since the 1950s engineers have also cut more than 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) of canals through the marsh for petroleum exploration and ship traffic. These new ditches sliced the wetlands into a giant jigsaw puzzle, increasing erosion and allowing lethal doses of salt water to infiltrate brackish and freshwater marshes.

So, what I'm wondering, are those part of the same walls that caused more harm than good when Katrina hit?

with bedtime stories and homely advice?

... but she was neither a poker player... nor a civil engineer.



I wouldn't want to play against my Grandma in a Bridge game though!

grim

she told me, though I never understood it.


"42."

can also be said of those who have basements. Why build a swimming pool and cover it with a house?

in Detroit before the city fixed the storm drains.