Can New Orleans be rebuilt?

08/31/2005 | self

[pageonetoo]

I have been looking at the news pictures of the devastation to New Orleans, and the surrounding area. I have heard the politicians making all the promises to rescue, rebuild, and restore.

Everybody says that every soul should be saved. No disagreement. That certainly qualifies, under the Welfare clause.

Every one of the politicians goes on to talk of the restoratation of the Big Easy. Nobody has any clue about the cost. Nobody questions the advisabiltity. It's not their money.

I have lived around the coast of North Carolina, for much of my life. I remember riding in my dad's back seat, down to Wrightsville Beach, after Hazel in '54. The Carolina Yacht Club, and some of my friends beach houses, were hit hard. They rebuilt. Friends and neighbors helped them clean up.

A few years ago, one came through ( brain fart?) that shut down I-95, for the first time in history. I flew over the area from ILM to near Raleigh, then back over to the coast, near Morehead City, and home. Every thing below seemed to reflect flood waters, and after that FEMA came through with their checkbooks. They bought travel trailers, and leased land to park them on.

After a flood, on the Shenandoah, near Berryville, VA, a few years ago, FEMA came through with their checkbooks.

I looked over their shoulders, and inquired of recipients, as to their losses. FEMA was/is "giving away" money. Low cost loans have "rebuilt" many a nice cabin/home, that needed refurbishment anyway.

Largess makes the Prez look great, but who is paying the bill? We are prosecuting a WOT and a WOD. We are paying for prescription drugs for seniors, and looking for other ways to feed, and expland, the Medicare/Medicaid entitlements. We see money p***ed away every day, on needless grants, and "programs (Can anyone say "Midnight Basketball?"). There's a guy that makes a living hawking his book about getting "free money" from Uncle Sam.

___________So, I was thinking...

Is there any federal or state land sufficiently close, high and dry (or at leastEminent Domain theory, the best use of the land would be for the people, not the animals, or bugs. Suspend the animal/bug rights BS, and streamline the EPA process.

Construction could begin as soon as the paperwork is done, for the land swap. The details can be worked out as they go, while they are clearing it. Build several Modular Factories offsite, and mass produce some new tract homes. Build schools out of All-Steel, or similar buildings, and clear fields for playing ball.

The commercial interests will go crazy. The people would have a purpose. Hope could be just around the corner!

Just keep the unions out.

IMO, it would be cheaper, better, and quicker, to restore these people to normalcy.

Make NO into another Venice. Keep the tourism, but make a bedroom somewhere close by!

[pageonetoo]

They are still looking for Atlantis. Why shouldn't we let them find it?

[Chi-townChief]

I would imagine they'll rebuild the public areas like downtown and the French Quarter and the remainder will just be park/reservoir.

[keats5]

Now that I'm more educated about New Orleans, I can't help but wonder who came up with the idea to build levies, pump out water and build a town below sea level on the Gulf of Mexico.

It really does seem crazy.

[Anticommie]

Can New Orleans be rebuilt?

It can, but it shouldn't.

[Incorrigible]

Yes. Rename Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

[LilDarlin]

Just keep the unions out.

From your lips to God's ears...

And keep Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton locked in an underground cell just east of Cornfield, IA!

Sorry, Cornfield!

[pageonetoo]

It can, but it shouldn't.

That, obviously, was my real intent, with the posting.

I believe it is the result of political influences wanting the money for their own pet projects. I read of how they have literally neglected repairs to the SINKING dykes!

Now, they will dig into our pockets again. I give liberally (hate that term) to charity. The Salvation Army gets the most. They spend less on overhead. They are there. They will be there. It is a ministry, to them.

Money is not the answer. I feel sorry for their trajedy, and loss, but can't believe they should ever build it back.

[HitmanLV]

It can and should be rebuilt, but at a new site.

[pageonetoo]

... And keep Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton lockedin an underground cell just east of Cornfield, IA!

Ahhh, the Field of Dreams...

[sit-rep]

They are still looking for Atlantis. Why shouldn't we let them find it?

lol...

[Dark Skies]

I don't think Dresden and Tokyo weren't built on sub-sea level river sediment. From I hear, when New Orleans was initially developed, it was above sea level, but being built on river sediment instead of bedrock, there was only one way to go...down.

I can't imagine the economics are right for it to be rebuilt.

[pageonetoo]

Does anybody know how high this place is?

I built houses on the NC coast, as a General contractor. They have withstood the hurricanes, but the beaches have deteriorated, almost up to the pilings, on several. But, the storms haven't taken them, yet.

There are ways to do things right. ...and there are ways the gum't does them!

[newzjunkey]

No problem with rebuilding it but there's no way it should be built as it was or even necessarily in that location because this will probably happen *again* in another 50 yrs or sooner.

I don't think folks realize that once these places flood there is no going back. You can't just move in again when the waters are removed. The local politicians promising to rebuild are feeding the people are truckload of bat guano.

One thing is certain: all new construction better be built with such disasters in mind. Making a new Venice out of New Orleans might be entertaining and fun for tourism. The fact remains it is suicidal to rebuild the city feet below sea level in that 'bowl' area between three bodies of water! If tax dollars are doing to the effort, they must be spent *wisely* and not on some emotional whim. Move the city. Raise the level of the city. Something has to be done to avoid such a costly (and predictable) wipeout event from happening again.

Will this happen? I doubt it. The political will just isn't there. Instead the levies will just get taller. UNLESS, the death toll is hundreds or thousands making a strong, emotional "never again" case. Even then I have my doubts. Especially after seeing how Gov Blanco and the others did not act ahead of the landfall.

[RightCanuck]

The greatness of American ingenuity, resourcefullness and spirit will overcome this disaster.

[sharktrager]

The highest point in New Orleans (excluding buildings) is 6 feet above seal level.

[pageonetoo]

I agree that we will overcome. It's the details, that scare me...

Our Fedrool gumt, under this administration, is ready to give away the house. They already have a good chunk of mine... I want to hold on to the rest!

WE are going the way of Rome, and the smell of burning, is in the air!

Hail Caesar! Don't forget to pay your taxes.

[pageonetoo]

The highest point in New Orleans (excluding buildings) is 6 feet above seal level.

When building in NC, we were required to locate the first floor above the flood plain. We built many houses, on phone pole length pilings, concreted into place. I could not believe the number of MS, AL, LA houses built on slabs, next to the beach... They were begging for destruction.

But, they will get the gum't money to get back down there...

[Anticommie]

Yes. Rename Baton Rouge to New Orleans.Good idea, will save $$$$sssss from trowing into bottomless pit.

[pageonetoo]

Unfortunately, that bottomless pit, is run by our Prez! He's the one that has approved historical spending excesses! He doesn't have to pay for it!