Lifesupporters.com Forums - View Single Post - Should New Orleans be rebuilt in same location?

Merika · 09-07-2005, 10:53 AM

It's a hard call. I too live in a very swampy coastal area about 150 feet from the beach. We end up in weird places that we consider 'home'. Most of the time all is well...sometime it bites us in the a$$ regardless of where we may be. I am currently right smack dab in the middle of Ophelia's path.....so I do understand.

I was talking to an engineer with the Coast Guard. The best idea so far would be to keep the Bourbon Street and historical areas where they are. Perhaps even keep those neighborhoods on higher elevation where they are. However, the infrastructure (government/law enforcement/hospitals and the majority of the population rebuilt a little NW of current location. The hurricane itself wasn't really the main problem here...it was the levee situation. Spending billions just to get that up to par for a Cat 5 hurricane seems a wasted expense when so much other needs are more pertinent.

There is also a problem as to what to do with all the debris. Flooding it may be the only answer. It's an ecological nightmare....but it beats the hell out of hauling it out for years to some other location.

Rebuilding a whole city back on an area which is below sea level doesn't make sense.

Anyone else have an opinion?

09-07-2005, 10:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
Merika Retired Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 13,268	Should New Orleans be rebuilt in same location? It's a hard call. I too live in a very swampy coastal area about 150 feet from the beach. We end up in weird places that we consider 'home'. Most of the time all is well...sometime it bites us in the a$$ regardless of where we may be. I am currently right smack dab in the middle of Ophelia's path.....so I do understand. I was talking to an engineer with the Coast Guard. The best idea so far would be to keep the Bourbon Street and historical areas where they are. Perhaps even keep those neighborhoods on higher elevation where they are. However, the infrastructure (government/law enforcement/hospitals and the majority of the population rebuilt a little NW of current location. The hurricane itself wasn't really the main problem here...it was the levee situation. Spending billions just to get that up to par for a Cat 5 hurricane seems a wasted expense when so much other needs are more pertinent. There is also a problem as to what to do with all the debris. Flooding it may be the only answer. It's an ecological nightmare....but it beats the hell out of hauling it out for years to some other location. Rebuilding a whole city back on an area which is below sea level doesn't make sense. Anyone else have an opinion?