Should we rebuild New Orleans?

[PaganLibrarian]

I mean no offense to anyone who lives in New Orleans. However, New Orleans is majorly trashed right now. That can be blamed on the hurricane, but face the facts, if New Orleans was not located where it is, on top of a swamp, the damage would not have been nearly as severe. From everything I've seen, the original damage from the hurricane was bad. But the aftermath of the hurricane has been devastating. Breaking levees, flooding, looting. It's going to be many months, if not years, until New Orleans is inhabitable, at a cost of billions of dollars. Then, once it is rebuilt, there is nothing to say that the same thing wouldn't happen next year, or the year after. The city of New Orleans is built in a bad location. Perhaps it would be better to not pour the money into rebuilding a disaster waiting to happen. I know that there is historical value to New Orleans, but is it worth the lives lost, or the future lives that will be lost the next time New Orleans goes under water?

[Chibi-Fallon]

I was just thinking in Poli Sci class how sad I am that I've never been there. It's gonna be a sad, sad Fat Tuesday that's for sure.

[Xander67]

If you are going to talk about not rebuilding Hurricane prone areas lets talk about telling the rich people not to put thier million dollar homes in the carolinas in places where hurricaines actually DO HIT...

New Oreleans is a Vulnerable area, yes. But people love that city, and that spirit is strong...
It will take a federal law to stop those people from rebuilding...
New Orleans has been a cultural Icon in our nation for generations...

Yes we should rebuild.... We recovered from the loss of the world trade center, it took time, but we did it... Granted this is much greater than 9/11 but we will bounce back... the south will rise again...

[Shanti]

no
They need to do it much better than it was.
Money will be a factor.
They had levees for a cat3 not smart.
They need to do it better, until they can 'really' do it better..no they shouldnt.

[PaganLibrarian]

If you are going to talk about not rebuilding Hurricane prone areas lets talk about telling the rich people not to put thier million dollar homes in the carolinas in places where hurricaines actually DO HIT...

No, I wasn't talking about hurricane prone areas. I'm talking about rebuilding a city that is below sea level, between a lake, a major river, and next to the ocean in a hurricane-prone area. That is a disaster waiting to happen. Eventually, it is going to happen again, no matter how well the levees are built. So why spend billions and billions of dollars to rebuild, when you know that eventually another disaster like this one is going to hit? Why not spend that money to relocate people to someplace that they aren't going to die when the next Katrina hits. It is only luck of the draw that this hasn't happened before now.

[QUEEN OF THE DAMNED]

I mean no offense to anyone who lives in New Orleans. However, New Orleans is majorly trashed right now. That can be blamed on the hurricane, but face the facts, if New Orleans was not located where it is, on top of a swamp, the damage would not have been nearly as severe. From everything I've seen, the original damage from the hurricane was bad. But the aftermath of the hurricane has been devastating. Breaking levees, flooding, looting. It's going to be many months, if not years, until New Orleans is inhabitable, at a cost of billions of dollars. Then, once it is rebuilt, there is nothing to say that the same thing wouldn't happen next year, or the year after. The city of New Orleans is built in a bad location. Perhaps it would be better to not pour the money into rebuilding a disaster waiting to happen. I know that there is historical value to New Orleans, but is it worth the lives lost, or the future lives that will be lost the next time New Orleans goes under water?

Although I think you make a good point, my love for New Orleans is overriding my common sense here. I've never been there, I sincerely hope to someday. But as an avid Anne Rice fan I feel like I've spent half my life there (well I have in the books) I feel great love and respect for the place and I am devastated about the hurricaine - for the people/animals and the town. I hope they do rebuild it, but honestly, this is all said with selfish motive.

[Xander67]

well, hurricaines dont really hit New orleans as frequently as in Florida


as for the levee, they need to go back to the drawing board with that...
the levee worked for years, but now they need to think in terms of Katrina lol

[Choro's Mom]

I mean no offense to anyone who lives in New Orleans. However, New Orleans is majorly trashed right now. That can be blamed on the hurricane, but face the facts, if New Orleans was not located where it is, on top of a swamp, the damage would not have been nearly as severe. From everything I've seen, the original damage from the hurricane was bad. But the aftermath of the hurricane has been devastating. Breaking levees, flooding, looting. It's going to be many months, if not years, until New Orleans is inhabitable, at a cost of billions of dollars. Then, once it is rebuilt, there is nothing to say that the same thing wouldn't happen next year, or the year after. The city of New Orleans is built in a bad location. Perhaps it would be better to not pour the money into rebuilding a disaster waiting to happen. I know that there is historical value to New Orleans, but is it worth the lives lost, or the future lives that will be lost the next time New Orleans goes under water?

Good question. The reality is, as you note, that the city IS below sea level. Perhaps it's time to pull back to higher ground.

[Zibblsnrt]

Here's (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9150429/) an MSNBC article detailing the difficulties involved in rebuilding - and at this point, it really is "rebuilding," not "repairing" - New Orleans.

I think it can be done, but we're going to be talking a project on a scale that rarely happens anywhere and has never happened in the United States.

The options at this point really are between buckling down and preparing for something that will literally take decades, or helping to set up the refugees elsewhere across the US and leaving the city to future archaeologists.

One option appeals to me psychologically and emotionally, the other in a colder economic and common-sense fashion. However, this is one of those situations where I don't know which of the two ought to win out, though I consider either option to be a worthy and massive Task to undertake at this point. Whatever goes on, this is something that three hundred million Americans should be involved in, not just some tiny subset of those "directly affected."

There's no precedent. This Has Not Happened before. Right now, I think the city should be emptied for now, but after the people are made safe, I don't know what they should do.

I'm still trying to get past the idea of refugee camps and talk of cholera outbreaks in third-millenium North America.

[Trithemius]

With the way the city is situated now, between the lake, the river, on the coast, and below sea level, rebuilding is asking for another disaster. But you know what? Americans are damn stubborn people and I have yet to see a hurricane-ravaged area be abandoned. I think they will find a way to rebuild, hopefully keeping in mind what can very obviously happen.

[lynn271]

I wouldn't be too surprised if New Orleans just dies. How many people are going to take their insurance money and just leave and not rebuild? How many people who are staying with friends or family are going to get tired of feeling like freeloaders and get new jobs and then just decide to stay where they are now? How many people's employers will go ahead and relocate them, if they can? How many aren't going to want disrupt their kids' lives again after they've got used to a new school and made new friends?

The longer it takes to clean it up, the more likely that New Orleans will just die.

[Dark Phoenix]

Also NO is a major port which is very important to our economy so those facilities have to built somewhere and it would most likely cost even more money to build a new city on higher ground.

[PaganLibrarian]

However, building a new port on higher ground would be cheaper, and the city would gradually build up around it. And let's face facts...New Orleans is sinking. Even if you rebuild, with stronger levees, you face the problem of needing to build higher and higher, and stronger and stronger levees as the city sinks.

I am suggesting that it may be time to let the curtain fall gracefully on New Orleans, and move the city elsewhere. Perhaps farther up the Mississippi, since the port doesn't have to be located right at the mouth of the river.

[PaganLibrarian]

That doesn't, of course, mean that all of New Orleans will get bulldozed into nonexistance. There are sections of the city that are above water level. Those areas can and should be recovered. However, any part of the city that is below the natural waterline should be cleaned up and left alone.

[AmericanMe]

Ever hear of the "Underground City" in Seattle? You see, Seattle was once below the sea level too, but flooding destroyed that city, so they built the new one on top of it!.

Really if you ever go to downtown Seattle, they give guided tours.

[~Elise~]

However, building a new port on higher ground would be cheaper, and the city would gradually build up around it. And let's face facts...New Orleans is sinking. Even if you rebuild, with stronger levees, you face the problem of needing to build higher and higher, and stronger and stronger levees as the city sinks.

I am suggesting that it may be time to let the curtain fall gracefully on New Orleans, and move the city elsewhere. Perhaps farther up the Mississippi, since the port doesn't have to be located right at the mouth of the river.

New Orleans has been sinking at rate of like 1/2 inch per year...so I thinking rebuilding the city shouldn't be an option, but JMO, however.

Elise

[Xander67]

That doesn't, of course, mean that all of New Orleans will get bulldozed into nonexistance. There are sections of the city that are above water level. Those areas can and should be recovered. However, any part of the city that is below the natural waterline should be cleaned up and left alone.

I have to admit, Logically your post makes sense... but I just dont see that happening.

if we start telling people that they can not build because they are below sea level you run the risk of violating their constitutional right to own land... that is what Insurance is for.. they live there, they know the risks, and they are willing to pay the high price of insurance to live and own a buisness in a place that has been a vital part of our nations culture for years....

if you draw circles on your map of all the cities that are below sea level, you will be quite surprised... I feel it should be left up to the people who build to worry about.

[Xander67]

New Orleans has been sinking at rate of like 1/2 inch per year...so I thinking rebuilding the city shouldn't be an option, but JMO, however.

Elise

they tried to feed us that here in atlantic city, but the casinos build anyhow... if it sinks it sinks, they will have to deal with it ...

fortunately the casino I work in is not on the Island itself and above sea level :) :jumpshot:

[PaganLibrarian]

if we start telling people that they can not build because they are below sea level you run the risk of violating their constitutional right to own land

The problem is, without the levees there is no land to own. And everytime the levees break, which they run the risk of doing each time there is a hurricane, we end up with another catastrophe, more people dead, and more billions gone. There comes a time when you have to say "enough is enough" and let the sea have the land. Not to mention the fact that all of our work in New Orleans hasn't stopped the land from sinking. Eventually, there will be no way to keep the sea out. We will not be able to build levees high enough.

[Shanti]

Hey its a right to own land? I thought it just matters if you have money?

[lynn271]

they live there, they know the risks, and they are willing to pay the high price of insurance to live and own a buisness in a place...



That's not quite correct. They aren't paying high prices for insurance just because they live below sea level. Federal flood insurance covers most of what happened in New Orleans, and federal flood insurance is extremely cheap, as insurance goes, no matter where you live. Taxpayers pay the high price of their insurance.

My parents live less than a mile from the Gulf in northwest Florida and pay less than $100 a year for their federal flood insurance on a house worth $200,000 (maybe more) not including the land and the slab. I stand to inherit the house and I still think those rates are just idiotic. That house is going to be flooded one day, period, and since they chose to build there they ought to have to pay for their own insurance.

Why subsidize people to build in places like that, places where you don't wonder if but when will the house be destroyed? We all know that if you subsidize any activity, you get more of it than you would have otherwise. But heck, there's no need for the federal government to concern themselves with not charging enough to be able to cover payouts when the time comes.

[Storm Moon]

I'm going to be honest, but I'm not really sure there's much they can do at this point. If they tried to pump the water out into the gulf, it'll just come right back in with the levees being broken. Every time they try to patch up the levees, their efforts fail. I don't think it's up to us, but to the government. FEMA's doing everything they can, but it's going to take a long time.

[PaganLibrarian]

They are now reporting explosions, and major fires at the rail yards for New Orleans. That is only going to make things worse. Especially if the fire spreads.

[Darkdale]

We'll rebuild the city. It's what we do.

[Felidae]

I realize that my love for the city colors my opinion here, but disaster is nothing new to NO


"Living in the shadow of disaster



Pirates, rougues, murder and mayhem . . . New Orleans' history is filled with tales of violence, death and the bizarre. In its early years, every time the newborn Crescent City struggled to its feet, along came an inferno or hurricane to knock it to its knees.

Plagues sapped the lives thousands of children and adults, leaving stacks of bodies awaiting their turn to enter the crowded aboveground cemeteries. Wave after wave of yellow fever - Bronze John - and cholera wiped out entire families overnight, emptied churches and left those who could afford it fleeing to the clean forests of the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain..."


For More See:

http://www.nola.com/haunted/rue/?/haunted/rue/content/rueintro.html

So of course they will (and, IMO, should) rebuild.

[stella01904]

MM ~ I don' t know what form the city will take. I just hope the beautiful wild French Quarter is not wiped off the face of the earth. I also love the old cemeteries with the above-ground crypts and garlands of spanish moss.
We don't want these things to be gone.
BB, Stella

[PaganLibrarian]

Another thing to keep in mind. Every single day the water remains in the street, there is that much less chance that buildings will be saved. If New Orleans is rebuilt, I doubt it will bear much resemblance to pre-floor New Orleans.

[narleymarley03]

The city if rebuilt will never have the original historical charm it once possessed. Also, the Mississippi coast also had alot of historical buildings which have been destroyed.
I don't think we can use disaster prone as a guide for rebuilding. Look At the earthquakes, forest fires, mudslids, tornados, etc. No matter where you live there are risks.

[Valnorran]

Well, how and why do they keep rebuilding along the San Andreas fault? I don't know, but somehow they do. I don't have any warm sentiments regarding New Orleans. If they don't rebuild it then Baton Rouge will replace it as the major port.

[lynn271]

The city if rebuilt will never have the original historical charm it once possessed. Also, the Mississippi coast also had alot of historical buildings which have been destroyed.
I don't think we can use disaster prone as a guide for rebuilding. Look At the earthquakes, forest fires, mudslids, tornados, etc. No matter where you live there are risks.

That's true. But we don't need the government to subsidize people to build in flood-prone areas. Let them pay their own insurance premiums for whatever disasters they're prone to, just like the rest of us have to.

[Darkdale]

That's true. But we don't need the government to subsidize people to build in flood-prone areas. Let them pay their own insurance premiums for whatever disasters they're prone to, just like the rest of us have to.

You must spread some Karma throughout the Community before touching lynn271's again.

[PaganLibrarian]

I don't think we can use disaster prone as a guide for rebuilding.

It's more than flood-prone. New Orleans is below sea level. We are counting on man-made levees to hold out the ocean. This has been proved time and again to be ultimately futile. And the problem will only get worse as the land on which New Orleans rests sinks. Eventually, there will be no possible way to keep New Orleans from vanishing under the water. No matter how sentimental people are about New Orleans and it's history, now may be the time to stop wasting money on artificially preserving a piece of lake bed with a city built on it.

[SilverMaiden]

Much depends on the people and the American oil industry.

I can see why some would rather not rebuild New Orleans. I can see why some would return to rebuild.

Every where one goes, one will always face Nature. How many places are there where the American people can hide from Nature? Be it snow, hurriances, avalanches, droughts, floods, earthquakes, the earth is a living planet there is no avoiding it.

In terms of energy resources, it's now come to America's attention that having a main portion for our energy resources (refineries) located in an area that is not a top priority of funds to protect against nature and re-enforce is now a major problem.

It will take years to rebuild New Orleans. Part of the human spirit is about getting through harsh times and rebuilding. Human beings always have to subdue Nature to survive. We just have remember never to lose sight of Nature in our arrogance.

[stephy-sama]

Yes. The spirit and history there is just too wonderful to let it fall into the swamp. I went there once when I was 13 years old and I feel like I was just there yesterday. I love it so much just as a visitor, I can only imagine how horrified people are who LIVE there. They aren't going to let it disappear. I was seriously tempted to email the guest house I stayed at and see if it's still standing, but I'm afraid they have more serious issues at the moment. I'll do it in a few weeks.

[sari0009]

I mean no offense to anyone who lives in New Orleans. However, New Orleans is majorly trashed right now. That can be blamed on the hurricane, but face the facts, if New Orleans was not located where it is, on top of a swamp, the damage would not have been nearly as severe. From everything I've seen, the original damage from the hurricane was bad. But the aftermath of the hurricane has been devastating. Breaking levees, flooding, looting. It's going to be many months, if not years, until New Orleans is inhabitable, at a cost of billions of dollars. Then, once it is rebuilt, there is nothing to say that the same thing wouldn't happen next year, or the year after. The city of New Orleans is built in a bad location. Perhaps it would be better to not pour the money into rebuilding a disaster waiting to happen. I know that there is historical value to New Orleans, but is it worth the lives lost, or the future lives that will be lost the next time New Orleans goes under water?

Stilts.

Structures on stilts and a water tower were not destroyed while others around them were ... in the New Orleans area. As a child, while in Holland I noticed that many houses in some areas were built on stilts. Of course it fascinated me and I was told about the nature and realities of Holland's low-lying geography.

New Orleans will never be the same but it will be rebuilt to some degree. It is, after all, a valuable port and an area rich in cullture and more.

[Darkdale]

New Orleans will never be the same but it will be rebuilt to some degree. It is, after all, a valuable port and an area rich in cullture and more.

I think we have to rebuild, but I think we need to make it smaller and above sea level if possible. We can't just wait for this kind of disaster to happen again.

[PaganLibrarian]

The spirit and history there is just too wonderful to let it fall into the swamp.

However, there may be nothing we can do to keep that from happening, in the long run.

Structures on stilts and a water tower were not destroyed while others around them were ... in the New Orleans area.

But the vast majority of buildings in the New Orleans area are not on stilts, including the multi-story building. That means rebuilding practically the entire city on stilts. No one could afford to do that. And that's just a temporary fix. As the land under the stilts sink, so do the buildings.

I think we have to rebuild, but I think we need to make it smaller and above sea level if possible.

This I can agree with. Any buildings that are above water-level, on stable ground, should be allowed to stay. Everything else should be torn down, or relocated.

[Mishka]

Like the World Trade Center, New Orleans should not be a grave or just a memorial (though there will be a memorial), but be built taller and stronger than before.

I'm a stubborn, proud American. If there is a will, there's a way, and we will find it.

[PaganLibrarian]

but be built taller and stronger than before.

A nice sentiment, but the world trade center isn't built below sea-level, on unstable, sinking land that is in Hurricane Alley.

[odubhain]

A nice sentiment, but the world trade center isn't built below sea-level, on unstable, sinking land that is in Hurricane Alley."Hurricane Alley" includes the entire Gulf and Atlantic seaboards of the United States. The cost benefit analysis for New Orleans should consider the refineries and trade that occur because it is there. IMO everyone will soon be seeing this cost/benefit in their own budgets soon and the impact that will last so long as the damage remains unrepaired. New Orleans is the major southern port of the United States. That's why it is there originally and that is why it has been maintained until now. That is also why it will be rebuilt.

Searles O'Dubhain

[PaganLibrarian]

The cost benefit analysis for New Orleans should consider the refineries and trade that occur because it is there.

The refineries are not directly in New Orleans, below sea level, therefore they will would remain, whatever happens to New Orleans. As for the trade, any city on the Gulf Of Mexico could perform the functions of New Orleans. Most could do it better at the moment, with the destruction of the shipping infrastructure in New Orleans. New Orleans is not necessarily indispensible to US trade. The money needed to get New Orleans back in the shipping game could be spent on another city, to turn them into a shipping center for the Gulf of Mexico.

[odubhain]

The refineries are not directly in New Orleans, below sea level, therefore they will would remain, whatever happens to New Orleans. As for the trade, any city on the Gulf Of Mexico could perform the functions of New Orleans. Most could do it better at the moment, with the destruction of the shipping infrastructure in New Orleans. New Orleans is not necessarily indispensible to US trade. The money needed to get New Orleans back in the shipping game could be spent on another city, to turn them into a shipping center for the Gulf of Mexico. Where do you think the people live that work in the refineries? How will the rail intrastructure be changed to allow for distribution of shipped goods? Just which city are you thinking could replace New Orleans?

The city of New Orleans has been there for over 300 years serving its function as the major US southern port. It will be there for another 300 years doing just that after this hurricane. Besides all that, it will be political suicide for Bush or any other US politician to even suggest that New Orleans be left to rot. :-)

Searles

[Know Your Rights]

I've never been to NO, and probably never will, though I would love to, someday. And I firmly believe that the spirit of the people who occupied NO at the time will do their best to rebuild it. Certainly it will not be the same, but, one thing you can not fight or stop is the human spirit. I've always been of the opinion that the people of NO are a certain breed, just a little differant from others, just as every city is made unique by the people contained within, so to is New Orleans. They will rebuild, they'll rebuild better, on stilts and up higher to lessen the blow of the next hurricane that decides to make it's way through the city. Perhaps they'll build in a differant location.
At that, even if most people decide not to rebuild, it's a Port City, and where there's a Port City there is people. Even if it starts only as a port and not a city, it'll grow, and expand, it's the natural order of things...
Anyway, that was my two cents...

[PaganLibrarian]

Where do you think the people live that work in the refineries? How will the rail intrastructure be changed to allow for distribution of shipped goods? Just which city are you thinking could replace New Orleans?

They don't live in New Orleans, not right now anyway. And not for sometime to come, from all reports. So housing will have to be found for the workers whatever happens. That housing does not have to be in New Orleans.

I'm going to say this right now. Forget what has been tradition for New Orleans. The flooding has destroyed that. There is no commercial infractructure left. The flooding will have destroyed the rail lines that were innundated, not to mention the fire in the rail yards yesterday. Therefore money will have to be spent to rebuild the shipping centers. But that money does not have to be spent in New Orleans. There are a number of cities along the gulf of Mexico, from Florida to Texas, that should be considered as a replacement for what used to exist in New Orleans, but does not any longer.

[PaganLibrarian]

At that, even if most people decide not to rebuild, it's a Port City, and where there's a Port City there is people. Even if it starts only as a port and not a city, it'll grow, and expand, it's the natural order of things

Except that there is nothing natural about rebuilding a major city on unstable land, below sea-level. New Orleans has been a port city in the past. However, the fact that this disaster has happened shows why it should not be a port city in the future.

[xstarE_nitex]

I would love to see new orleans be rebuilt better than ever... the gang probs gone... and with levys built stronger than to withhold a catagory 3 hurricane.... if thats possible???... I think it is.... its just scary to think about putting so much money into building new orleans again and then it happens again... its a huge risk... but a beloved city.... but if its rebuilt I say it needs to be cleaned up.....
Im kinda in the middle... parts say yea... and parts say nay... :ggrief:

I dunno... I kinda think we should just let mother nature have her

[odubhain]

They don't live in New Orleans, not right now anyway. And not for sometime to come, from all reports. So housing will have to be found for the workers whatever happens. That housing does not have to be in New Orleans.

I'm going to say this right now. Forget what has been tradition for New Orleans. The flooding has destroyed that. There is no commercial infractructure left. The flooding will have destroyed the rail lines that were innundated, not to mention the fire in the rail yards yesterday. Therefore money will have to be spent to rebuild the shipping centers. But that money does not have to be spent in New Orleans. There are a number of cities along the gulf of Mexico, from Florida to Texas, that should be considered as a replacement for what used to exist in New Orleans, but does not any longer. I bow to your belief in the wisdom of conjecture. As for me, I will place my efforts, energy and belief in the wisdom of history, experience and necessity. Time will tell where and which wisdom has served the people of New Orleans,the South and the United States of America.

Also, I'm going back to placing my energy and efforts into helping my neighbors in Gulfport, Mississippi,along the Gulf Coast and our friends in New Orleans Louisiana. That's where life, death and the future are being decided right now in the present.

Searles O'Dubhain

[PaganLibrarian]

As for me, I will place my efforts, energy and belief in the wisdom of history, experience and necessity.

History says that levees do not indefinitely hold out the water. Experience says that what has happened once will probably happen again. Necessity says that we can't wait months, or years, for New Orleans to get rebuilt to recommence the operations that were centered in New Orleans.

[WAHM-Brenda]

Should we also be telling people not to build in Florida? Or what about tornado alley? (Which by the way is the Bible belt - interesting huh LOL)

=^..^= Pastor Brenda
Ordained ULC Minister
yourhealthyfamily@consultant.com
An Eclectic Christian (http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com)
Discover a way to increase your health and/or income! (http://practicalsolution.info)


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[Shadowulfe]

personally, i feel they should rebuild. but when they rebuild, they should rebuild NO above sea level

[xstarE_nitex]

quote:WAHM-Brenda "Should we also be telling people not to build in Florida? Or what about tornado alley? (Which by the way is the Bible belt - interesting huh LOL)"


and the earthquakes in california... and ice storms... and dust storms.... and the mud slides and wild fires... theres a disaster for almost every region... but this is one of the worst disasters.... and its just scary to rebuild to think the same thing could happen... and I guess we should think about other areas... but then again if thats the case we would all be huddled up in the same little safe area.... I dunno, im still in between...

... to me its kinda like a spider builds its web and it gets torn apart because he chose to build it in a bad area.. but the next day he's still there building his web in the same place only to get torn down again...

[Penthesilea]

The experts are saying it could take 6 months to get all the flood water pumped out of the city and then another year to assess the situation and tear down everything that will need to be torn down. The wreckage will need to be hauled away and put somewhere -- they've no idea where yet -- and maybe, if the soil is too badly contaminated, a layer of earth will have to be scraped off and disposed of as well. Then, 18 to 24 months from now, they can start rebuilding. And I think they will because, frankly, you tell Americans that something can't be done they will not rest until they have made a liar out of you! New Orleans presents a civil engineering problem the likes of which we have never seen. I'd bet money I don't have that right now, in engineering schools all over the country, students and teachers are already working on solutions to New Orleans' problems. It should be interesting to see what they come up with.

[PaganLibrarian]

Should we also be telling people not to build in Florida? Or what about tornado alley?

For all those who are comparing New Orleans to Florida, or elsewhere, I will give this answer...

Everyone takes risks. However, there are acceptable risks, and unacceptable risks. If you live in hurricane prone areas, there is a chance that you will be affected by such a hurricane. Same in earthquake prone areas, and tornado prone areas.

However, even in those areas, you can build in such a way as to mimimize the risks (and in the case of tornados, it is unlikely that any one person will be affected by a tornado).

In New Orleans, though, you have a city that is situated in such a bad position, that any hurricane will cause major damage to the city, and a bad hurricane will cause devastation, and massive loss of life. To me, this is unacceptable risk. Can we rebuild New Orleans? Sure. I have never said we couldn't. I am just questioning the wisdom of doing so.

And as an aside, New Orleans has been a major shipping port. And it could be again. But is it wise to put so many of our economy's eggs in a basket that is so easily destroyed by nature?

[WAHM-Brenda]

I do agree that there is some great culture there BUT does anyone stop to realize that most the people who were living there were living in poverty? Do you honestly think that these people are going to be able to rebuild? I highly doubt it since I'm willing to wager that these people probably didn't even have insurance. The government isn't going to rebuild these people's homes. What are these people left to do?

=^..^= Pastor Brenda
Ordained ULC Minister
yourhealthyfamily@consultant.com
An Eclectic Christian (http://www.yourhealthyfamilyhome.com)
Discover a way to increase your health and/or income! (http://practicalsolution.info)


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