Is New Orleans Done?

[Teaser]

As we speak, the bowl that is NOLA is filling up with water. Slowly, but apparently inexorably (so far I've heard nothing about the ACE managing to get control of the situation). I would imagine that nearly all homes in the city will be tremendously damaged, most probably beyond repair. There are also massive disease and pollution problems to consider.

The economic force it is going to take to reconstitute the Nawlins we know and love will be immense. It may even be beyond our capabilities to do so within an acceptible time frame for hundreds of thousands of people.

So what next? Rebuild the city and improve the levies and canals? Or just call it a day and start over somewhere more sensible?

[kbm8795]

1. Yes. Rebuild.

If we can donate $300 billion + to Iraq, we can rebuild one of our most important cities.

[phantom power]

9. We should consider rebuilding it somewhere else.

Above sea level, outside the Mississippi flood-plain, etc.

[Rosco T.]

10. $600 billion.. and Halliburton no-bid contracts.. n/m

[leftofthedial]

16. IF it has to be virtually totally rebuilt,

build it somewhere else.

I hate to say that. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities on Earth. But that location is untenable in this era of global warming.

[Sgent]

2. I don't know yet

I've already talked to at least two couples who will not move back.

My own family hasn't even thought that far ahead -- and economics don't play a huge role in their decision (retired, in school, etc.)

[BootinUp]

3. Each family will have to make that decision.

I predict many will decide to relocate.

[LSK]

4. they are focused on evacuations now

Once that is done, then they have to figure out how to drain the city and then who knows whats next. It will be rebuilt in some form or another. I think the brick buildings and concrete buildings will survive. Wood framed ones are toast thou - so thats most of the residential area.

[Double T]

5. Too early for armchair speculation on NOLA's future.....

let time go bye,see what unfolds and what might be possible

[Hobarticus]

6. NO will be rebuilt.

It's a major port, everything that comes down the Mississippi for shipping out of the Gulf Coast goes through there. She'll be back.

[WI_DEM]

7. Nope, the Big Easy will be back

[no name no slogan]

8. Was San Francisco "done"?

SF was completely leveled by a massive earthquake in the early 1900s. They rebuilt it, and it got even bigger than it was.

They'll rebuild it. It may take several years, but they'll rebuild.

[Teaser]

13. The problem is...

New Orleans is ultimately doomed. The Mississippi river wants to move west. It has wanted to move west for a long time. Eventually, the river will win. Events like this act to accelerate the river's ambitions (effectively moving lake Pontchartrain closer to the Mississippi). This is a battle we *will* eventually lose, especially given the climatic havok global warming will generate.

So with this in mind, do you still give the same answer.

[no name no slogan]

25. Eventually, it will

but "eventually" in nature can mean several thousands of years, or the span of hundreds of generations in human history.

Humanity is resilient, and has survived for thousands of years on this planet, despite its own arrogance, stupidity and a hostile environment. The city will rebuild one way or another. It may not be the same as it was, but it will still be there.

[bmcatt]

11. We haven't done it for the WTC...

Not being any sort of "I told you so"-ist at all, but I'd like to point out that the World Trade Center in NYC is still a giant hole in the ground.

I used to work (for a total of 4 years over the span of a couple of decades) within 2 blocks of the WTC. The couple of times (since 9/11) that I've taken the train in and seen it, it brings tears to my eyes remembering what it used to be.

If we can't rebuild an office-complex icon of New York City, I don't see the government (at any level) doing anything for an entire city.

I've been to NOLA twice. Once I flew a private plane in and did an approach over the lake, landing at Lakefront. That trip, I stayed at the Hyatt, just a block or so from the Superdome. I'm very sad that this has happened and *wish* that the city would be rebuilt. Sadly, I just don't think it's going to happen.

[kahleefornia]

12. there is no perfect, safe place

I'm sure they will rebuild, with better structures and flood control. Hey, I live on the San Andreas Fault, so I've sure had people tell me it's a dumb place to have a city.

But where else - Seattle is all set up for a tsunami to hit, the midwest gets tornados (tornadoes??) all the time, the northeast gets blizzards and ice storms (I grew up in Buffalo, NY - you haven't seen snow until you can walk onto your roof from it!)

True, N.O. is one big flood plain and it is no surprise - but it does seem like there is always some way nature can take out puny humans no matter where we decide to settle down and try to conquer it.

[Kolesar]

14. Who will sell them flood insurance? eom

[Inland]

18. There wasn't flood insurance in the first place for residences nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. The Government

I have my flood insurance policy in the other room... I thought flood insurance is underwritten by the government....

[Kolesar]

23. Yes. The government "pools" the risk

I have a recollection that the federal government quit selling insurance to the Missouri River floodplain and to some offshore islands, though.

[smitty]

15. New Orleans

has probably taken the worst hit of any major American city since San Francisco in 1906. A city below sea level surrounded by water on three sides is a disaster waiting to happen---and it just did.

If they rebuild, it'll take years and 100s of billions of dollars.
It might be more sensible to relocated the city--but where would it be moved?

I think New Orleans will be rebuilt, but it'll be a much smaller city.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

21. It will be 100% Tourist Trap, guaranteed.

[Inland]

17. And who is going to rebuild and improve the levees and canals?

the same republican federal government that nickled and dimed NO to death?

Would you sink personal money into a new house with that gang in charge?

Don't you think there will be a bunch of big pronoucements and then NO will be left in the same camp as afghanistan, Iraq, our troops, no child left behind, the national parks....underfunded?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

19. The old part of N.O. is okay.

It's all the additions in worse areas that are the problem. The French Quarter got through it pretty well, and what flooding there is isn't all that bad compared with the rest of the city.

The levies were built for a Category 3 back in the 60s, I believe. A real set of high levies would do the trick.

[Teaser]

24. Levies

Levies will not stop the Missippi's march to meet up with lake Ponchartrain. Ultimately, nothing will.

So the question is, does this fact make for an unbearable risk?

[benburch]

30. Sad to say you are wrong.

The Quarter is flooding as I type this.

[benburch]

31. Sad to say you are wrong.

The Quarter is flooding as I type this.

[norml]

22. Move New Orleans. Make what's left like Venice.

Call the new city New New Orleans.

[Kolesar]

28. Venice was constructed of edifices looted from Eastern cities

The Venetian mariners literally brought back Eastern art: they took the friezes from buildings in the Middle East and Asia and reassembled them in Venice.

[hwmnbn]

26. I've never been to New Orleans.......

but I've always loved the free spirit of its culture. The music, the creole/french/indian mixture, the mysterious southern sub-cultures, Mardi Gras, its uniqueness. Everything about it seemed fun and upbeat. People dance on their way back from funerals, what hope!

I realize it had problems like everywhere else. I've never been to New Orleans, but I'm missing it already. I hope it pulls through.

[SmokingJacket]

27. It's such a great city, truly one of a kind. What a tragedy.

I have no idea what the solution should be. It's true that it's located in a spot ideal for shipping 300 years ago -- but not practical now. But the history and beauty and imcomparableness of the place is worth saving, if at all possible.

When I moved to the area many years ago I thought I was in a foreign country. I hope it can be saved and rebuilt...

[Kolesar]

29. It is culturally unique with the heritage of the Acadians

They were murdered and/or expelled by the British in the 18th century. They found haven in that city before there was a United States. Their name morphed from Acadian into Cajun. It rather reminds me of New Mexico's culture that was formed of Spanish and Native American cultures.