Rebuild New Orleans

At some point, we as a country are going to have to reevaluate our commitment to having a city (New Orleans) where it is. Do we want the responsibility, since it is so susceptible?

Should whatever’s destroyed be rebuilt as is, where is, or should we encourage people to rebuild elsewhere?

The more video I see from Hurricane Katrina’s wrath, the more I wonder.

5 thoughts on “Rebuild New Orleans”

  1. It’s almost a question of rebuilding a whole region and historic way of life / culture. Yet, as a frequent and recent visitor to Biloxi and New Orleans, I’m watching the human toll and loss with a sense of disbelief.

    I also wonder if the system of levies could be improved. Didn’t Providence build a huge protection mechanism after the Hurricane of 1938? That should be a priority for the Army Corps of Engineers in New Orleans.

    As for Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, Mobile- and all of the inland communities… where would you relocate all of these people?

    Additionally, given the risks, does it make sense to concentrate population in South Florida, to continue to allow boom growth in cities like Jacksonville?

    My 2 cents are that we rebuilt Charleston after Hugo and it was the right thing to do- and we will resettle and rebuild in the Katrina affected areas, but we should do so with a 20-yr plan of engineering to mitigate future effects.

    Additionally, I fear that insurers will withdraw from those states as they have in Florida (as much as the state will allow them to- complicated situation), and this will have other economic effects.

  2. The more I think about it, the more I realize it was a bad idea. The levees, canals, and (electric) pumps have been an engineering marvel, that is until they met Katrina. I have been there and have read about it and like probably thousands of others have said Wow, it works, but what if…. Now we have the what if. I don’t think you can move a city of that size or not rebuild but the protection system has to be improved.

  3. I’m starting a blog list of responsible bloggers asking the tough questions regarding the rebuilding of New Orleans at Discussions on alternatives to rebuilding New Orleans.

    I’ve added your post to the list.

    Please point any like minded bloggers that would like to be added to the list over my way at:

    http://porkopolis.blogspot.com/2005/08/discussions-on-alternatives-to.html

    Part of what has to be done is contact Senators and Congressman to let them know there’s another way to help those in need.

    Porkopolis

  4. I posted this on buzzmachine:

    First, let me say to rxwhite and every other person directly affected by this disaster how very sad and concerned I am at the dangerous predicament in which they find themselves, not to mention the horrific loss they have suffered. I have watched the news constantly with tears in my eyes, and yes, I immediately made a substantial donation to disaster relief.

    I will state unequivocally that these people need immediate and long term solutions to the difficult problems that they face.

    That said, here is my question. And to repeat myself, I can well understand and appreciate the desperate circumstances faced by those affected and this is not meant to seem at all insensitive to their needs and desire to get back to their homes and neighborhoods just as soon as possible.

    There are tens and hundreds of thousands of displaced people. It will cost billions and take years to rebuild the homes directly in danger of a repeat disaster (living 20 feet under sea level, one can never feel comfortable that it will not happen again in our lifetime). There is the immediate need to house all of these people, provide them with food and the means to survive and thrive. Just dealing with the evacuees/refugees or whatever the latest politically correct term is to describe the victims will cost more billions. And for how long? I doubt that there will be anything like normalcy for a very long time. When faced with the magnitude of the problem, the facts are sobering. Just safely restoring power to the neighborhoods will take months and millions of dollars.

    There is existing housing stock throughout the US that is vacant and otherwise for sale. These are great homes in wonderful communities that can immediately accommodate these folks. Rather than putting an unprecedented strain on Houston, Tennessee and other adjacent areas and their school and public welfare systems, each of these areas around the country could absorb the handful of students and families without much of an effect on their local economies.

    From a cost and efficiency standpoint, does it make sense to spend the restoration money instead on the immediate relocation of these folks to areas where they can quickly get on with their lives, rather than placing them in what will certainly be intolerable conditions for months until who knows what happens with their homes? Remember also all the businesses that were closed and will never re-open, so the local economy will be in a state of ruin for ages. Tourism, the largest or second largest industry in the area will likely not rebound for years.

    How long will it take for the neighborhood that needs to be rebuilt to also have the new grocery stores, schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure needed to sustain those homes?

    This disaster creates a terrific dilemma for our citizens, lawmakers, those affected and those far away — what is the best solution for everyone, not just those directly affected, but as well those who will pay the price in economic terms as well? It is very hard to find the correct balance between bringing people back to their homes and the costs. I do not envy the task of those who must make these very difficult decisions.

  5. I agree wholeheartly with your report. However, I can see halburton and other large construction companies licking their chops and they have many friends in the White House who will support them.

    We have found room for millions of illegal aliens; we should be able to absorb the people rom New Orleans.

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