New Orleans 8' under sea level Rebuilding????

JimR · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

( You can't fool Mother Nature, at least not for very long.
The Dutch have been keeping out the North Sea for decades. Expensive, but possible. )

The Dutch did a great job at keeping out the North Sea. Only to find that in 1993 and 1995 they were flooded out from within by the rivers and heavy snowmelt.

Dargo · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

I have relatives who have been life long residences of New Orleans (over 80 years) and close friends who live in Jefferson Parrish there in New Orleans. Even before they received word from FEMA about terms of their claim payments, both have decided that they are now no longer interested in living below sea level.

My relatives said that they have had nightmares for decades about this happening, and now are too old to try to worry about it anymore. They plan to take whatever insurance settlement they may get and never come back. They are only worried that they will never see any insurance settlement before they pass away, at their age.

My friend from Jefferson Parrish loves the area, but is unsure if he will be able to continue to live there. If he cannot purchase flood insurance for what he calls a "reasonable" price, he feels compelled to leave as much as he doesn't want to do so. He said he simply cannot live there without flood insurance. He is also quick to not place blame on anyone for what may be staggering flood insurance costs. In his words: "Afterall, I live in a drained swamp. Mother nature always wins and, the swamp will return." He is unsure of where he will end up calling home.

JimR · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

Dargo, Glad to hear your relatives and friend are ok. You made some very good points about living under those conditions. Many times over the years my wife and I have talked about moving south. Every time there is a bad hurricane we look at each other and say, we'll put up with the cold and snow, at least it melts and goes away. I cannot fathom losing everthing you own and having to rebuild your home again. You spend 20-30 years of your life putting your sweat and money into a place to have it blown or washed away in a few hours. In 30 years of living here we have never had any type of storm damage to our house. I'm sure some of these folks are doing it for a 2nd or 3rd time now down there. We can never be flooded out where we live. Granted the warm weather would be nice to have year round. But for now the wife and I are staying put. May God Bless those people in New Orleans and surrounding cities and towns for the next few years.

Cactus · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

Thanks Mike.

KentT · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

( In 30 years of living here we have never had any type of storm damage to our house. I'm sure some of these folks are doing it for a 2nd or 3rd time now down there. We can never be flooded out where we live. Granted the warm weather would be nice to have year round. But for now the wife and I are staying put. )

Don't get too comfy and self-secure... one of the biggest and most devastating storms in US history is the the 1953 (?)hurricane (and accompanying tornadoes) that hit New England -- and demolished much of Worcester. Our little township just down the road from you (North Brookfield) had its water plant destroyed in that storm, and just got the revamped water treatment plant back online less than 4 years ago... We'd been using bottled drinking water for 50 years as a result of that storm...

sneaky_pete · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

( Without going to the history books/etc..How did New Orleans end up being built where it is way back when and why ??? )

Here is a short but enlightening view of man-made alterations of the Louisiana coast, by National Geographic. Maybe not the most un-biased view, but they began building man-made levees in 1927, which is why the city is below sea level now.

texbaylea · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

JimR

I believe that you are asking about Brownwood, a residential community near Baytown, TX. Subsidence from drainage of shallow oil sands as the primary cause created the situation. Anyway it was not a large area and there was a forced buy out and it gone back to the wild.

Vernon

JimR · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

( JimR

I believe that you are asking about Brownwood, a residential community near Baytown, TX. Subsidence from drainage of shallow oil sands as the primary cause created the situation. Anyway it was not a large area and there was a forced buy out and it gone back to the wild.

Vernon )

Thanks Vernon, That is the place. I remember watching the story on that town.

JimR · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

( 
Don't get too comfy and self-secure... one of the biggest and most devastating storms in US history is the the 1953 (?)hurricane (and accompanying tornadoes) that hit New England -- and demolished much of Worcester. Our little township just down the road from you (North Brookfield) had its water plant destroyed in that storm, and just got the revamped water treatment plant back online less than 4 years ago... We'd been using bottled drinking water for 50 years as a result of that storm... )

My mothers first house was destroyed in that hurricane. She moved from Worcester to Leicester the previous year. One of my aunt's lived across the street from my mother. Her house only sustained glass breakage and shingle damage. Yes, you are correct, don't get too comfortable. But the chances of getting wiped out in the inland northeast are a lot slimmer than down on the southern coasts. I'm shocked to see that it took 50 years to fix your water problem.

Junkman · Sep 3, 2005

Re: New Orleans 8\' under sea level Rebuilding????

( Don't get too comfy and self-secure... one of the biggest and most devastating storms in US history is the the 1953 (?)hurricane (and accompanying tornadoes) that hit New England -- and demolished much of Worcester. Our little township just down the road from you (North Brookfield) had its water plant destroyed in that storm, and just got the revamped water treatment plant back online less than 4 years ago... We'd been using bottled drinking water for 50 years as a result of that storm... )

Worcester Tornado of June 9, 1953 spawned tornadoes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The worst tornado, at least an F4, cut a 46-mile path that went through the community of Worcester, causing 94 fatalities and nearly 1,300 injuries.

Hurricane Carol of August 31, 1954 is the most destructive tropical cyclone to hit the northeast Atlantic states since 1900. Carol was the last major hurricane (category 3 or greater) to strike Rhode Island and Connecticut. To this day (2004) Hurricane Carol is still considered the most damaging hurricane in Massachusetts history.

Hurricane Diane August 17, 1955 unleashed some of the heaviest rains ever recorded in New England. As much as 19 inches of rain fell across Massachusetts, setting rivers on a rampage that left several New England towns, including Waterbury, Connecticut, looking like they had been devastated by war.

February 6 & 7, 1978 a massive nor'easter brought record-breaking snowfall and near hurricane force winds, closing interstates, schools, and businesses for more than a week. For Boston and Providence, Rhode Island, this snowstorm ranks as the biggest on record, dumping more than two feet of snow. Other portions of Massachusetts and Rhode Island received up to four feet of snow.

Got to just love the weather in New England..... you never know what to expect and when. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif