Why rebuild New Orleans?

W

winsomehill

Cathlete
Okay, I am worried this will offend people. I don't meane to offend anyone. I think what has happened to all the people in the hurricane is very very sad and I think anyone who can, should help those people who are in need. However, I don't understand why it makes sense to rebuild a city that is below sea level on the ocean.? Scientist say it is a gaurantee that something like this will happen again it's just a matter of time. So why rebuild? Why not instead help people start new somewhere that is not vulnerable to this? I am very puzzled by this.
Heather
 
I feel the same way. And I am not sure I would want to live in Florida either. Beautiful as it is, it is truely heartbreaking when those hurricanes keep rolling in year after year and causing devastation to homes, etc.

Charlotte~~
 
I think part of the reason will be that there is an enormous amount of history in a place like NO. It has been around a long, long time, and originally was not under sea level, but was built on silt so it has sunken. It will be interesting to see if there is anything done to try and raise the level of the city.

Also, remember, the Netherlands have managed to survive(although they don't get hit with hurricanes), by upgrading their dykes and levees. That whole country is below sea level.

I am not being for against rebuilding there, just siting some reasons, and pointing out it can be done, given enough money.
 
Also keep in mind other cities around the country sit on or in areas subject to natural disaters. Many cities sit along geologic faults vunerable to earthquakes, below volcanos, along the shores-lines vunerable to hurricans, in regions vunerable to tornadoes...etc. Most of which have been struck by the disaters multiple times and many lives have been lost and the cost of rebuiling has been astronomical. If we start to look at not re-building New Orleans becasue it sets dangerously below sea level, shouldn't we also consider not re-building in these other areas that have been struck multiple times by these acts of nature? Not trying to be contrary, just looking at the bigger picture.
 
I appreciate hearing the alternate view point. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it. But, it's nice to see it's not completely ilogical.
Thanks for your replys,
Heather
 
Desi, I agree. I live in Florida. We are aware of the risks of living here. We also pay enormous insurance premiums to live here. My house is built up a story with blow out walls on the first floor in case of storm surge and windows that are rated to withstand 150 mile winds. Am I stupid enough to think this would save me or my family from a hurricane? No! I've evacuated many times.

But, if I am forced out, than force everyone out of San Francisco, New Orleans, all Gulf coast cities stretching from Florida to Texas, Los Angeles, the Midwest areas prone to flooding, the areas of Georgia, S. Carolina and N. Carolina prone to hurricanes, all the Hawaiian islands (tsunamis, hurricanes and volcanoes, oh my!), the areas near volcanos like Mt. St. Helens, and areas that get devastating heat waves and droughts and blizzards and tornadoes. Oh, I forgot mud slides.

I don't know what the solution for New Orleans is, but most areas of the country are prone to something.
 
The thing that I would not have liked about living in NO is living amongst the pumps that have to pump even rain water out. I think they should rebuild. IF the city knew for a while that their levees were not "up to date", then they should have given every effort to repair/rebuild them. Maybe if they had, they would have held all together or at least longer. JMO
 
It is a dangerous spot on the map, but this is a very old city that is rich in history. We cannot tell the people of New Orleans that have lived there for generations that we will not rebuild. That is an insult to the people.

As Americans we have to be resilient and rebuild. We don't have the option to abandon New Orleans.

Lori
 
Yes, it is part of our heritage. It could be restored a little more intelligently, though.

My MIL left there last year and even with the hurricane, she's still not glad she left! You can take the girl out of the Crescent City but you can't take the Big Easy out of her!

People in New Orleans have a very fatalistic view of life. I'm not a fan of Interview with a Vampire, but I did think it got the attitude right! It will be interesting to see what happens.
 
Because that city has a soul of its own. I have dreamed of living there. I have family that lives there, I however have only vacationed there. There is something about that city - I feel it when I am driving into it. I can not put into words the feeling I get as I approach that city. There is a lot of history there, it has been there a long time. It breaks my heart to watch what has happened, and the very thought of not rebuilding. As far as the money goes - no one can dispute that our government has spent our tax dollars on stupidier things.

Jo
 
Culture and history aside, it's an important port city and a major center for the oil industry (hence the current panic over gas prices). There are economic reasons for rebuilding.

And yes, the city has a rich culture and history, but once that's destroyed, the best you get by trying to recreate it is Disneyland, a slick simulation without any soul. New Orleans will never be the same.
 
Don't hate me for saying this...
...Just a thought:
The hurricaine is also part of the History of New Orleans.
 
LOL It’s like the Sunday school song I learned when I was a little boy. The foolish man built his house upon the sand - The wise man built his house upon the rock. Rebuilding New Orleans will be done, and will be foolish.
 
Actually, you never notice the pumps. The canals and levies, yes, but never pumps. I always thought the weather (humid in a way that hits you like a soft hot wet sponge and a constant drizzling rain most of the time) would be what would keep me out of NO. Plus, between the food (heaven) and the drink (daquiri stores everywhere) no amount of Cathe would keep me slim! And sober for that matter! But if you can visit, do! It is a great city and I can't see it leaving us.
 
But not the end of the history of New Orleans. People have their hearts there and many will plan to go back. Should San Francisco be emptied because it could have a catastophic earthquake. There are areas where wildfires abound. Our Mt. Lemmon, North of Tucson, was partially destroyed because nature cannot run her course and burn off occasioanlly. People interfere with that. We need to treat the environment with some respect. These storms are getting worse with each passing decade and there should have been improvements to the levees implemented before it was too late. We live and learn and a second storm of such magnitude will be treated differently and perhaps the city made to evacuate before it's too late. The possibilites are endless. Besides, it's not just New Orleans which was devastated. And it could have happend to other places if Katrina had altered her course just a bit. My in laws live in West Palm. Might as well plan on shutting the Atlantic Seaboard down and getting everyone out because this will happen again. It's hurricane season and there's always a chance a hurricane will of "biblical proportions". Tsunamis will happen again and earthquakes too. There's no reason not to do the best job possilble to restore what I have heard was an amazing city with a rich history and I'd love to hear a New Orleanean's opinion on the subject, in particular one who family's been there for generations.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
 
We're not only under threat from the sea, but also from too much rain or melting ice waters from the alps and bad water management from Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria (not to mention having to cope with the badly polluted waters that come down to us from those countries).

But with our own good water management (i.e. dikes, dams, sensible building restrictions near rivers and coast) and top notch experts, we manage to keep damage from floods at a minimum.

It shouldn't be a problem to rebuild NO where it is, if and when the money is made available to ensure good water management (good structures, training engineers, educate people and government)!! Not just now with the recent catastrophe in mind, but in the future as well.

Dutchie
 
New Orleans has its place in american history. Jackson Square has the oldest church in the USA for example. And there are countless other historical landmarks. It would be a shame to let it go after surviving almost 300 years in some areas. There is no place quite like it anywhere and numerous generations of families have raised their families in the cresent creole city of the south.

There is no question of why it should be rebuilt. It is home to these people. It is not unreasonable to do this.


Judy
AKA Likes2bfit since 1999
 
I hear she was a beautiful city, very gothic. She's never been on my list of places I want to see but now I almost wish I'd seen her. My flags are at half mast for New Orleans and indeed, everywhere and everyone who is suffering now. She'll never be the same but I am sure those who have the heart to restore her to her former glory. This is so sad.
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"

Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
 
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