Rebuild New Orleans?

[frostwyrm]

A complete rebuild will cost a FORTUNE, and it could all be destroyed again with the same huge loss of life. There is already some debate about how to proceed. I admit I have no emotional attachment to the city but I think a 100% restoration is not the way to go. I have seen the satellite photos and some locations around the rim of the "bowl" were untouched, but unfortunately the great majority of the city is right in the bowl. It seems to me the site is fundamentally dangerous and it's amazing disaster has only struck just now.

[JC]

New Orleans is perhaps the most unique city in the United States. Its lush history should be honored by restoring it. Sure, it was a disaster waiting to happen, but if the warnings were properly heeded, the expanse of the disaster could have been lessened. I would hate to lose the New Orleans culture.

[sweetpeteman]

yes, but this time lets fill in the bowl, or at least make better flood controls.

[frostwyrm]

I guess it will be a while before we get a reasonably accurate price tag on a rebuild, but I imagine it will be incredibly expensive. One thing you have to worry about is that businesses will no longer want to be located within the bowl without flood insurance, which will be astronomically expensive from now on. The only way I can see business moving back is if the Federal government helps out with insurance costs, but I'm not sure that's a good use of tax dollars. I expect insurance will be a major issue in the whole debate. Of course the overriding consideration is the continued danger to human life. New Orleans is not a safe place to live or work.

[JC]

yes, but this time lets fill in the bowl, or at least make better flood controls.

 

Talk to the Dutch. They are masters at holding back the water. Something like 3/4 of their entire country is below sea level. Touring the canals and massive [expletive] systems throughout the country, particularly near Rotterdaym, is awe inspiring. They have a flood break dam that has massive, MASSIVE doors to control water flow. During the tour I took when I lived there, the guide said that it would take a flood of biblical proportions (See, Noah) to breach it.

 

Further, these Dutch engineers have been utilized farther north on the Mississipi previously for irrigation and flood control. They are brilliant, and any recovery should start with them providing a plan.

[jtownie]

yes, but this time lets fill in the bowl, or at least make better flood controls.

 

Talk to the Dutch. They are masters at holding back the water. Something like 3/4 of their entire country is below sea level. Touring the canals and massive [expletive] systems throughout the country, particularly near Rotterdaym, is awe inspiring. They have a flood break dam that has massive, MASSIVE doors to control water flow. During the tour I took when I lived there, the guide said that it would take a flood of biblical proportions (See, Noah) to breach it.

 

Further, these Dutch engineers have been utilized farther north on the Mississipi previously for irrigation and flood control. They are brilliant, and any recovery should start with them providing a plan.

 

I'd like to think our engineers would say the same thing about our [expletive] systems. But regardless, greater changes need to occur. I'd say we should rely on our Federal Gov't but it's 4 days into it and our president stated this morning that "We will take of it." Does it scare anyone that there just seems to be very little sense of urgency?

 

Either way, this is a HUGE mess. You can try to restore it but the fact is a lot of the historical architecture is gone! Can you replace that? Especially since it is going to be underwater for at least 2-6 months? That's a ton of damage to try to recover from. It's going to be at least a year before they can even get into the city to see what can be rebuilt. Thankfully the French Quarter didn't flood....that's something they need to build upon.

[frostwyrm]

You can try to restore it but the fact is a lot of the historical architecture is gone!

 

Yeah, New Orleans will never be the same. You can find good analogies in Germany. All those cities with their historical-looking buildings look authentic to us, but they are largely modern restorations or even complete reconstructions. Somebody who saw those cities in the 1930's wouldn't be fooled.

[JC]

yes, but this time lets fill in the bowl, or at least make better flood controls.

 

Talk to the Dutch. They are masters at holding back the water. Something like 3/4 of their entire country is below sea level. Touring the canals and massive [expletive] systems throughout the country, particularly near Rotterdaym, is awe inspiring. They have a flood break dam that has massive, MASSIVE doors to control water flow. During the tour I took when I lived there, the guide said that it would take a flood of biblical proportions (See, Noah) to breach it.

 

Further, these Dutch engineers have been utilized farther north on the Mississipi previously for irrigation and flood control. They are brilliant, and any recovery should start with them providing a plan.

 

I'd like to think our engineers would say the same thing about our [expletive] systems.

 

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/story.sandbag.drop.pool.jpg

 

I'll take the Dutch.

[wolf stansson]

New Orleans is perhaps the most unique city in the United States.

++

 

I can't imagine New Orleans not being New Orleans. In a relatively young country, it is maybe the most culturally significant city outside of New York. I'm not saying it is, i'm just saying the argument is there. If any of you have spent any time in the French Quarter or walked down the boulevards and seen the architecture and cultural sites, you would want it restored.

[hardcorecubfan]

New Orleans is perhaps the most unique city in the United States. Its lush history should be honored by restoring it. Sure, it was a disaster waiting to happen, but if the warnings were properly heeded, the expanse of the disaster could have been lessened. I would hate to lose the New Orleans culture.

 

As a history teacher i agree as a geography/economic teacher I don't. We challenged mother-nature and loss. rebuild the French quarter and some nice touristy stuff but then move it back and let the lake and river take back what is the bottom of the toilet bowl (not an insult to the [people but to the physical geography) of the United States.

 

Look at Galveston in 1900, they learned a lesson and thus we have Houston (granted an armpit of Texas)

[jtownie]

yes, but this time lets fill in the bowl, or at least make better flood controls.

 

Talk to the Dutch. They are masters at holding back the water. Something like 3/4 of their entire country is below sea level. Touring the canals and massive [expletive] systems throughout the country, particularly near Rotterdaym, is awe inspiring. They have a flood break dam that has massive, MASSIVE doors to control water flow. During the tour I took when I lived there, the guide said that it would take a flood of biblical proportions (See, Noah) to breach it.

 

Further, these Dutch engineers have been utilized farther north on the Mississipi previously for irrigation and flood control. They are brilliant, and any recovery should start with them providing a plan.

 

I'd like to think our engineers would say the same thing about our [expletive] systems.

 

http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2005/WEATHER/09/01/katrina.fema.brown/story.sandbag.drop.pool.jpg

 

I'll take the Dutch.

 

LOL! Yeah, it's a good point. While I think we need some help in the levee department I'm just wondering if there were huge faults that the Dutch could have made a difference in or not.

 

This is just so disturbing and painful to see. New Orleans won't be the same. I'm glad I got to see it before it got flushed. As long as the spirit stays alive they can build on that!

[hardcorecubfan]

This is just so disturbing and painful to see. New Orleans won't be the same. I'm glad I got to see it before it got flushed. As long as the spirit stays alive they can build on that!

 

Then if you want to see other great things disapear before they do go see Glacier nat'l Park. the glaciers will be gone by 2020

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

They rebuilt Chicago didn't they? Sure, it would cost a fortune to do so now a days, but you can't just let a city like New Orleans be wiped off the map like that. It would be a dishonor to those that have lost their life not to rebuild and try to go on.

[imb]

They better rebuild it. I didnt buy all these beads for nothing.

[goonys evil twin]

They rebuilt Chicago didn't they? Sure, it would cost a fortune to do so now a days, but you can't just let a city like New Orleans be wiped off the map like that. It would be a dishonor to those that have lost their life not to rebuild and try to go on.

 

I agree. There is some logic to the thought that NO shouldn't be rebuilt. But in the real world, that's just the wrong answer. Chicago was built on a swampy marshland, same with many parts of New Jersey. The entire west coast is a disaster waiting to happen with earthquakes. You can't force everybody to live in only the most safe and stable environments.

 

They just have to do it right this time. Don't take shortcuts and use cheap options. Do it right.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Apparently, Hastert doesn't think that we should. :roll:

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Apparently, Hastert doesn't think that we should. :roll:

 

I can't stand when people put money ahead of people's lives and homes. New Orleans was home to many many people. You HAVE to rebuild it.

 

I hope Hastert's home burns down, so people can say, "nope, we shouldn't rebuild it."

[frostwyrm]

Apparently, Hastert doesn't think that we should. :roll:

 

I can't stand when people put money ahead of people's lives and homes. New Orleans was home to many many people. You HAVE to rebuild it.

 

I hope Hastert's home burns down, so people can say, "nope, we shouldn't rebuild it."

 

Maybe he is thinking of peoples' lives. One of the reasons I'm not keen on rebuilding is that I don't want to see a bunch of people killed again. Now if we can come up with a 100% guaranteed foolproof containment system then maybe it would be OK to rebuild, otherwise I say stay out.

[JC]

How in the hell do you people keep electing Hastert?

[JC]

They better rebuild it. I didnt buy all these beads for nothing.

 

Here is a can't lose trick, should the French Quarter resume Mardi Gras functions.

 

On the way down, buy some of those wooden beaded car seat mats. You know, the ones that are supposed to be good for you back?

 

Anyway, take them apart on the way down (assuming you are driving). String them on twine or string and make your own beads. You will be freaking amazed at the trade value.

 

Amazed.

 

Don't argue.

[frostwyrm]

How in the hell do you people keep electing Hastert?

 

I don't think Hastert threw out any ideas that won't be floated by other politicians in the coming months, and I don't think it will be just crackpots or extremists either.

[goonys evil twin]

How in the hell do you people keep electing Hastert?

 

I'd venture a guess there aren't many people on this board from Hastert's district.

 

Regardless, there is nothing wrong with bringing up the topic. I want to see New Orleans rebuilt, but only if it's done right. It's not about putting money ahead of people's lives and homes, it's about not being a freaking idiot. It might turn out that rebuilding isn't a realistic option. Hopefully that it not the case. But I'd be pretty upset if there wasn't a congressman who at least raised the question. Remember, there was only 1 or 2 who voted against giving Bush the power to go to war. At the time they looked like muchrakers to many, in hindsight they very well could have been the only right ones.

 

The only way they should rebuild NO is if they can do it well. The federal government should pay for that, but so should the people who choose to go back there. There has to be some incentive to doing it the right way, and those who will benefit from the rebuilding should contribute.

[frostwyrm]

I expect some will argue for rebuilding a bit to the West, which if I'm not mistaken is above sea level. It would of course be a facsimilie of old New Orleans and not the real thing, but you could argue that building on the original site will also produce nothing more than a facsimlie too, since so much of the city will have to be demolished and completely reconstructed.

[JC]

My question about Hastert was in general, not associated with the link provided. I didn't read the link that was supplied. I just can't stand it when he opens his mouth generally. Sorry if I implied my opinion was about the article. (However, I think the New Orleans should be rebuilt without question. To abandon it now is to abandon infrastructure, such as the pump stations and intact levee work, that remains. The water can be held back, its just a question of doing it the right way.)

[goonys evil twin]

I expect some will argue for rebuilding a bit to the West, which if I'm not mistaken is above sea level. It would of course be a facsimilie of old New Orleans and not the real thing, but you could argue that building on the original site will also produce nothing more than a facsimlie too, since so much of the city will have to be demolished and completely reconstructed.

 

No matter what happens, historic sites will have to be destroyed. There is no way to keep it the same. They should do what they can to retain the culture, but they have the opportunity to make it better if they move some stuff.