AP IMPACT: New Orleans pumps were faulty

[Eugene]

AP IMPACT: New Orleans pumps were faulty

By CAIN BURDEAU, Associated Press Writer

11 minutes ago

NEW ORLEANS - The Army Corps of Engineers, rushing to meet President Bush's
promise to protect New Orleans by the start of the 2006 hurricane season,
installed defective flood-control pumps last year despite warnings from its own
expert that the equipment would fail during a storm, according to documents
obtained by The Associated Press.

The 2006 hurricane season turned out to be mild, and the new pumps were
never pressed into action. But the Corps and the politically connected
manufacturer of the equipment are still struggling to get the 34 heavy-duty
pumps working properly.

The pumps are now being pulled out and overhauled because of excessive
vibration, Corps officials said. Other problems have included overheated
engines, broken hoses and blown gaskets, according to the documents
obtained by the AP.

Col. Jeffrey Bedey, who is overseeing levee reconstruction, insisted the
pumps would have worked last year and the city was never in danger.
Bedey gave assurances that the pumps should be ready for the coming
hurricane season, which begins June 1.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070313/ap_on_re_us/katrina_faulty_pumps

[AndyA]

1. ZERO CONFIDENCE.

I have ZERO CONFIDENCE that this administration can do ANYTHING correctly. If they do something, it's not for the good of the American people, and you can make book on that!

[nealmhughes]

2. They could have hired a bunch of shipyard workers for a week and had the pumps

spinning like balanced tops in a fraction of the cost they will have now. Let's face it, if there is one thing that the Gulf Coast if full of, it is shipfitters...riggers and electricians. Or, sent a ship on a port call, it would have been done in a weekend to get the crew into the Quarter.