Government Saw Flood Risk but Not Levee Failure

New York Times ^ | September 2, 2005 | Scott Shane and Eric Lipton

[infocats]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 - When Michael D. Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, returned in January from a tour of the tsunami devastation in Asia, he urgently gathered his aides to prepare for a similar catastrophe at home.

"New Orleans was the No. 1 disaster we were talking about," recalled Eric L. Tolbert, then a top FEMA official. "We were obsessed with New Orleans because of the risk."

Disaster officials, who had drawn up dozens of plans and conducted preparedness drills for years, had long known that the low-lying city was especially vulnerable. But despite all the warnings, Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed the very government agencies that had rehearsed for such a calamity. On Thursday, as the flooded city descended into near-anarchy, frantic local officials blasted the federal and state emergency response as woefully sluggish and confused.

"We're in our fifth day and adequate help to quell the situation has not arrived yet," said Edwin P. Compass III, the New Orleans police superintendent.

The response will be dissected for years. But on Thursday, disaster experts and frustrated officials said a crucial shortcoming may have been the failure to predict that the levees keeping Lake Pontchartrain out of the city would be breached, not just overflow.

[atomicpossum]

Brian Wolshon, an engineering professor at Louisiana State University who served as a consultant on the state's evacuation plan, said little attention was paid to moving out New Orleans's "low-mobility" population - the elderly, the infirm and the poor without cars or other means of fleeing the city, about 100,000 people.

So their plan was to put everybody in the Superdome and leave them there?

[mtbopfuyn]

A third grader could have come up with a better plan.

[infocats]

"So their plan was to put everybody in the Superdome and leave them there?"

Apparently, their plan didn't take into account the failure of the levee. As a point in fact, the part of the levee that failed had just been reconstructed.

There will be plenty of time later for post mortems as to exactly what went wrong, and what should be done in the future to prevent such a tragic re-occurrence.

[justa-hairyape]

There will be plenty of time later for post mortems as to exactly what went wrong, and what should be done in the future to prevent such a tragic re-occurrence.

First recommendation would be to move away from the city states. But most Americans already have.

[johnny7]

“Brian Wolshon, an engineering professor at Louisiana State University who served as a consultant on the state's evacuation plan, said little attention was paid to moving out New Orleans's "low-mobility" population - the elderly, the infirm and the poor without cars or other means of fleeing the city, about 100,000 people.

At disaster planning meetings, he said, "the answer was often silence."

You 'wanna find out who's 'fault' this disaster was? Look no further.

[elli1]

Late Tuesday, the Pentagon dispatched five ships to the gulf, but four of the ships are coming from Norfolk, Va., four days' sailing time away.

The levee was breached on Tuesday.

Some military analysts criticized the Pentagon's response.

"Is the problem that they are only just now beginning to understand how serious the damage was?" said John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity .org, a national security policy group in Washington. "Did they not have a contingency for a disaster of this magnitude?"

Holy Cow. What does he think the Pentagon should have done? Sent ships into the hurricane and to ride out the storm?

[muskah]

Just been reconstructed is the key. Earthen levees when first built or disturbed take a few years of settling to achieve maximum strength. Water can penetrate uncompacted dirt easier than what has settled for years.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

If businesses were run like the government, there'd be no businesses.

[Labyrinthos]

As a point in fact, the part of the levee that failed had just been reconstructed.

I haven't heard that yet. Do you have a link? If true, then I wonder what NOLA politician is related to the engineer and contractor.

[raybbr]

In a city with so many residents living in poverty, the hurricane came at the worst possible time: the end of the month, when those depending on public assistance are waiting for their next checks to be mailed on the first of the month. Without the checks, many residents didn't have money for gasoline, bus fare or lodging.

Will anyone now admit that welfare is a trap and not a way out?

[LizardQueen]

As a point in fact, the part of the levee that failed had just been reconstructed.

What do you want to bet that whatever company that rebuilt it is up to their neck in corrupt cronyism and low-bidder shennanigans.

LQ

[DB]

The levee system was designed for category 3 hurricane maximum. Hardly the engineers or contractors fault. That was a political/economic choice the state made.

[DB]

See #13.

[Cosmo]

"Apparently, their plan didn't take into account the failure of the levee. As a point in fact, the part of the levee that failed had just been reconstructed."

That point came up yesterday, but has escaped mentioning at the Today Show et al. this morning.

[infocats]

"I haven't heard that yet. Do you have a link? If true, then I wonder what NOLA politician is related to the engineer and contractor."

I must be losing my mind. It had to be the Times article that I posted but when I went back to it, I no longer saw the reference...so either I'm hallucinating or the Times re-edited the article.

[alex]

This is a really nice example how Dims do govern: they sit on their asses and blame Bush.

[mewzilla]

How about failure of the pumps? Don't forget the pumps. And I'd like to see the locals pass that one off on the Feds.

[infocats]

"How about failure of the pumps? Don't forget the pumps. And I'd like to see the locals pass that one off on the Feds."

In an article I read yesterday (please don't ask me where because I can't remember), backup pumps were requested but New Orleans didn't get them because federal funding was not forthcoming.

[joesnuffy]

Time to re-instate Works Progress Assoc.

Built by WPA labor...