Posted on 05/14/2011 9:32:31 AM PDT by Santa Fe_Conservative
LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. – Army engineers prepared Saturday to slowly open the gates of an emergency spillway along the rising Mississippi River, diverting floodwaters from Baton Rouge and New Orleans, yet inundating homes and farms in parts of Louisiana's populated Cajun country.
About 25,000 people and 11,000 structures could be in harm's way when the Morganza spillway is unlocked for the first time in 38 years. Sheriffs and National Guardsmen were warning people in a door-to-door sweep through the area, and shelters were ready to accept up to 4,800 evacuees, Gov. Bobby Jindal said.
Some people living in the threatened stretch of countryside — an area known for small farms, fish camps and a drawling French dialect — have already started fleeing for higher ground.
In Krotz Springs, La., one of the towns in the Atchafalaya River basin bracing for floodwaters, Monita Reed, 56, recalled the last time the Morganza was opened in 1973.
"We could sit in our yard and hear the water," she said as workers constructed a makeshift levee of sandbags and soil-filled mesh boxes in hopes of protecting the 240 homes in her subdivision.
Elsewhere, workers were trying to shore up other levees, and engineers were tediously inspecting other floodwalls to make sure they would hold.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Remember during President Bush I, he heralded through legislation which guaranteed “No net loss of wetlands”? The Army Corps of Engineers is going to create some brand new wetlands - does that mean we can now take areas in Florida that have been declared “Wetlands” by federal decree and DEVELOP THE LAND??!!!
Most of the Cajuns that live there are the "Swamp Rat" variety, who make their living from hunting/trapping/fishing. And many of them have homes that float, or are elevated on pilings.
“does that mean we can now take areas in Florida that have been declared “Wetlands” by federal decree and DEVELOP THE LAND??!!!”
Sorry Hilton Head has dibs on the exchange. The people from Ohio need more space to build their retirement homes.
HUH? This is exactly what the spillway was designed to do. If anything the flooding will replenish what has been lost to coastal erosion which is what the Mississippi used to do before the government decided it was best to control the Mighty Mississippi. The government is just praying that the river doesn’t do what it wants to do and that is change course.
That’s good to hear.
You are correct. Not to mention the fact that landowners were well compensated by the Federal gov’t. for the perpetual right to do exactly what they’re about to do.
The entire basin is already considered wetland.
Aw....yer makin’ me homesick. My number of trips over the control structure has to be in the thousands.
Many will welcome the extra water, wild crawfish harvest should be tops.
Which pronunciation do you use?
a-CHAFF-a-lie-ya
or
ACH-a-fa-lie-ya
I’ve heard it said both ways.
If I could get reincarnated
I’d choose to come back as a cajun.
True, and I probably should have added my "standard disclaimer". I grew up among them, and "most" of them are wonderful people. A lot of them "poor as dirt", and a bit looked down on by their prairie cousins, but still great folks. To paraphrase...."some of my best friends are "Swamp Rats"".
And the best cookin this side of Brazil!
Me too, but I personally use the first.
"If I could get reincarnated I’d choose to come back as a cajun".
I consider myself one by adoption (and by marriage). They certainly know how to "pass a good time".
Wait for the water to go down, and hit the ponds. Load up in just a couple hours time. It would be more than welcomed, especially with the prices that hit this year.
Well, not having been to Brazil, I am unqualified to judge...but certainly the best cuisine to be had in the United States (and I've traveled enough to know).
Oddest restaurant ever....a Thai restaurant run by a Cajun and a Mexican (his wife). Opened just before I left Louisiana. I would love to have eaten there just once.
Most just say CHAFF-LIE.
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