NationStates Jolt Archive

Not just politically after the re-election of Mr. Chocolate-City, but New Orleans is literally sinking into the mire. We've always know that, only now it seems to be sinking faster than predicted (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_sc/sinking_new_orleans_9).

As the ground in those areas sinks, protection from levees also falls, scientists and engineers said.

For example, the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, built more than three decades ago, has sunk by more than 3 feet since its construction, Dixon said, explaining why water poured over the levee and part of it failed.

"The people in St. Bernard got wiped out because the levee was too low," said co-author Roy Dokka, director of the Louisiana Spatial Center at Louisiana State University. "It's as simple as that."

Now who do we blame? And what's the rationale for rebuilding?

Not just politically after the re-election of Mr. Chocolate-City, but New Orleans is literally sinking into the mire. We've always know that, only now it seems to be sinking faster than predicted (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_sc/sinking_new_orleans_9).

Now who do we blame? And what's the rationale for rebuilding?

Looks like we have a new non-Italian Venice. Oh, and blame Mother Nature.

Looks like we have a new non-Italian Venice. Oh, and blame Mother Nature.
Now there is an idea that should inspire the tourist bureau. Canals in New Orleans. Gondoliers(sp?) that sing jazz. The funeral parades would be on barges.

It's the same premise as rebuilding houses on the floodplains of the Mississippi River after it floods and destroys them;

If they didn't rebuild New Orleans, what would the next Hurricane destroy?

:p

Why now that you know it is in a hurricane affected area would you consider rebuilding in an area that is below sea-level?

It's the same premise as rebuilding houses on the floodplains of the Mississippi River after it floods and destroys them;

If they didn't rebuild New Orleans, what would the next Hurricane destroy?

:p


It would destroy the land, making the New Orleans area a gigantic swamp!!

you mean like it was when they found it?

I wonder how they determined it's sinking... if they looked at normal water levels along the levee... maybe it's just that the sea level is rising?
Not that I'm trying to tie this to the global warming thread...
Just throwing ideas out.

It could just be divine retribution for their sinful existences (not that I'm trying to link this to one of those tedious religious threads).

If the delta region was allowed to revert to nature, and they weren't constantly eliminating swamp, water grasses, and always dredging channels, the delta would have a natural barrier to storm surge.

of course, it would be impassable to ship traffic as well...

What we need is a new class of hover -ship. I'm sure someone on the international incidents must have designed somthing we could use.

It's a toss up. I first blame the French for building New Orleans on a delta and second, I blame the early, post-colonial American government for making the Lousiana Purchase.

these dodgy French onion sellers will try and flog you anything.

Not just politically after the re-election of Mr. Chocolate-City, but New Orleans is literally sinking into the mire. We've always know that, only now it seems to be sinking faster than predicted (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060601/ap_on_sc/sinking_new_orleans_9).

Now who do we blame? And what's the rationale for rebuilding?


Well it did just get hit by a hurricane.:headbang:

And what's the rationale for rebuilding?Where else are they going to put a port that has access to much of the inner areas of the U.S.?

these dodgy French onion sellers will try and flog you anything.
I know, and I though something smelled funny...

just think - what's wrong with Alaska? did you check it's MOT before you paid up?

Looks like we have a new non-Italian Venice. Oh, and blame Mother Nature.
Mother nature isn't to blame for this. New Orleans is sinking because men got sick of the river flooding parts of the city, depositing a new layer of ground every year and diverted the river. If the floodplains had been left to flood, there wouldn't be a problem with this. Of course there wouldn't be buildings on the floodplains, but they could be built elsewhere.

It's a toss up. I first blame the French for building New Orleans on a delta and second, I blame the early, post-colonial American government for making the Lousiana Purchase.
The French built the city on the part that isn't sinking. The americans expanded it to the part that is.

Now there is an idea that should inspire the tourist bureau. Canals in New Orleans. Gondoliers(sp?) that sing jazz. The funeral parades would be on barges.

Mardi Gras could get a tad dangerous then; open water, alcohol, drugs...

Why now that you know it is in a hurricane affected area would you consider rebuilding in an area that is below sea-level?

When New Orleans was first founded, the city was built on a natural ridge along the river, that was well above sea-level. Also, there was more land separating the city from the Gulf of Mexico then.

Obviously, things have changed. The river's course has been set by the Army Corps of Engineers, and has been controlled through levees so that it doesn't flood. This prevents the deposit of fresh silt every year. Southeast Louisiana is river deposits; there is no bedrock like in other parts of the continent. So what happens? The land sinks and is slowly erroded from the Gulf. While the original city (French Quarter) is still above sea level, even it is not as high as it once was.

So, abandon it you say? Well, the economic forces that led to the surrounding swamp land to be filled in and bulit upon also indicate that there is a need for a city there. N.O. is a major port - much of the agricultural produce and industrual priducts of the midwest reach the world through the Mississippi. Same thing with oil and natural gas in the reverse direction. People need to live there to make it work.

By that logic, why the hell did we re-build San Francisco after 1906, when it was wiped out much more thoroughly? I guess we should abandon most of coastal California too, or at least tell the people living there that if the 'Big One' hits, that they shouldn't count on any help rebuilding in the same location, nor should they be allowed to.

While I can see an argument that it shouldn't be fully subsidized by the taxpayers from the rest of the country, to say that people shouldn't rebuild if they choose to take the risk?!? Sheesh!


If the delta region was allowed to revert to nature, and they weren't constantly eliminating swamp, water grasses, and always dredging channels, the delta would have a natural barrier to storm surge.

of course, it would be impassable to ship traffic as well...

What really needs to happen is for the river to flood as it will south of the city and build up that land. If you look at a map, you will see this long 'finger' where the river runs it's final stretch to the Gulf. Much if that silt needs to deposit more inland to provide the most effective barrier. Like it used to, once upon a time.

Who's going to go tell the people who have lived in those areas for generations to leave? Easier said than done, I'm afraid.

It's a toss up. I first blame the French for building New Orleans on a delta and second, I blame the early, post-colonial American government for making the Lousiana Purchase.

French realtor: "Dis here is prime beachfront property, perfect for the newly formed nation looking for space to grow."

Monroe: "Well, I don't know, it looks a bit shallow and the mosquitoes could be problematic in the summer."

French realtor: "Don't worry about the mosquitoes, gentle breezes blow them away, besides it's only a few days every year, the rest it's great."

Livingston: "The port seems to need some work, and the backyars is completely wild!"

French realtor: "The port only needs minor repairs and it'll be good as new, and the backyard is free to do with it whatever you want, it's full of opportunities!"

Monroe: "Hmm..."

French realtor: "Look, I'm willing to give you a discount, but you'll have to decide fast because Spain came looking around the other day and seems interested."

Monroe: "Ok, we'll take it!"

French realtor (thinking): "he, he, suckers"

brilliant

If anyone is stupid enough to move back into N.O., then they should not get any homeowners insurance, they will be on their own. I'm serious, I mean comon, they got hit with a Cat. 5 storm and they didn't learn to stay away?? Sometimes you just got to let the children plug that fork into the eletrical socket before they'll learn.

If anyone is stupid enough to move back into N.O., then they should not get any homeowners insurance, they will be on their own. I'm serious, I mean comon, they got hit with a Cat. 5 storm and they didn't learn to stay away?? Sometimes you just got to let the children plug that fork into the eletrical socket before they'll learn.


By that logic the entire US coastline would be empty. Vast swathes of California would be uninhabited, Indiana, Tennesee, Missouri, and Arkansas would be abandoned (New Madrid Fault Line). Oklahoma, Nebraska, Northern Texas would be uninhabited due to tornadoes.

By that logic the entire US coastline would be empty. Vast swathes of California would be uninhabited, Indiana, Tennesee, Missouri, and Arkansas would be abandoned (New Madrid Fault Line). Oklahoma, Nebraska, Northern Texas would be uninhabited due to tornadoes.

Hey I didn't say that the idiot population would decrease, all I'm saying is that let the idiot live there, but don't give them sympthy when they get hit by a tornado in duh da dahh! Torando Alley!

It's been near 200 years since we had a good earthquake here should I be surprised when it destroys most of the state?

It's been near 200 years since we had a good earthquake here should I be surprised when it destroys most of the state?

Nah not really, TLC, History Channel, Discovery Channel, The channel with the yellow box, they all done earthquake stories about the San Andres fault.

--SNIP--
Nice dialogue! :D I approve!

I say we abandon the whole city.

The French built it there to tax all the ships that were coming down the river. See? Now it sounds rational doesn't it? I bet you'd live in a swamp if I told you you could charge hundreds of passers-by several hundred bucks a head each.

Somewhere between the original site and Baton Rouge...

Looks like we have a new non-Italian Venice. Oh, and blame Mother Nature.
No Blame the people who have constantly Dam, Divert, and Dredge the Mississippi River upstream so that none of the Soil in the water reaches and refills the delta. Naturally the Mississippi is supposed to flood every year, naturally it's supposed to have a huge wasout of debris in the Mississippi Delta.
It's not Natural anymore.

(Delta shrinks, New Orleans Sinks)

blame new orleans and the state government for diverting levee funds to other projects - simple as that

blame new orleans and the state government for diverting levee funds to other projects - simple as that
Nope, even if they kept building the leeves they would one day have to be 50 feet to even break even if it keeps up.

Perhaps they should have Asked the Dutch for help when they offered. Much of their nation should be ocean. But it isn't.