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

texbaylea · Sep 5, 2005

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

Tom_H

Few people are aware of the New Madrid Fault or the very high potential for another like it. This country will really see destruction and lost lives if that happens. I agree, liguefaction is a potential problem but I don't see any other practical source for the quantity of fill required.

Vernon

JimR · Sep 5, 2005

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

( One other point to rebuilding it would be some folks probabl dont want to leave their property. )

The state government could condemn the whole low lying area and make everyone move out. Then these folks would have no choice. Who knows, they may not want to return after what has happened.

Moon · Sep 6, 2005

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

I am glad to see help finally arriving for the many folks that were stranded. When talk of rebuilding came up, I too, had to wonder about rebuilding below sealevel again. Even rebuilding a few feet above sealevel doesn't seem prudent. I'm not an engineer, just a taxpayer.

But, what about all the middle class working folks who lived in NO. If their companies were not national with offices in other cities, they are out of a job for at least 6 months, maybe forever. Wouldn't you guess these folks are already looking for employment elsewhere and working to set up house somewhere else. They need money. With no company in place to pay them, they would have to hit the bricks looking for work to survive. Whether they want to move or not, the reality of the situation might force them to move, even though they would much prefer not to.

Even rebuilt, New Orleans will never be the same Big Easy that is once was.

JimR · Sep 6, 2005

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

The latest statistics on New Orleans population said that 28% of the city is poor. They won't be able to afford to move and look for work elsewhere. Here is where the government will have to step in and help them out. That 28% figure came from the Mayor's mouth this morning.

Amontilado · Sep 6, 2005

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

I imagine there will be Federal dollars made available to rebuild. I really can't blame the people who live in New Orleans. It's their home. What I do hope is that they are better prepared. Katrina will be a benchmark storm. There was evidence of a 31' storm surge in neighboring Hancock County Mississippi. If, and I mean if, another storm with even half of what Katrina offers, protection for a 15' surge will barely protect them. But if a 20'+ surge hits them more directly, I hate to think.

Steve

JimR · Sep 6, 2005

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

I hope whoever rebuilds NO has enough brains to fill the city in first . Then rebuild it on higher ground so this will not happen again.

sneaky_pete · Sep 7, 2005

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

( I hope whoever rebuilds NO has enough brains to fill the city in first . Then rebuild it on higher ground so this will not happen again. )

If they did back fill it to sea level (or above), it would just sink again over time. NO is built on the Mississippi River delta. Delta sediments compact over time as they de-water (water is squeezed out of them), and the delta sinks. If you allow nature to take its course, springtime floods every year will deposit more sediment on top, maintaining the top at about sea level. But, if you construct man-made levees to stop the small annual floods, then no new sediment is deposited and the area just sinks.

They started building man-made levees in 1927; from then until now NO has sunk at least 8 feet (I have read higher figures). So if it was built back up today, you could expect it to be back at 8 feet below again by about 2080 or so. Maybe far enough in the future that it would be our grandchildren's problem, but the point is, it's still going to be someone's problem again some time. All the money in the world can't change mother nature, at least not for very long.

Bob_Skurka · Sep 7, 2005

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

 All the money in the world can't change mother nature, at least not for very long. 

I don't know about that. We have some plastic surgeons up here that work magic. Heck there are women walking around that had breast implants years ago and they still defy gravity as they enter their senior years. Always fun to see them pull out their AARP cards to prove their age as their breast implants and multiple face lifts seem to defy gravity and mother nature. Heck some of them look like their face has been lifted so many times I'm sure they had to have their breasts lowered a couple times.

So it goes to proved 2 things. You can rebuild what ever you want to rebuild, and you can defy mother nature!

It does not address the question of if you SHOULD do it.

ronjhall · Sep 7, 2005

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

Bob
Your turn at being a SENIOR CITIZEN is coming sooner than you would hope for. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
Please lighten up on us older folks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob_Skurka · Sep 7, 2005

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

Ron, I was only illustrating a point of what technology is capable of doing. But the day you have plastic surgery to "enhance" your bust line is the day I will give up jokes of all types!