Don't Forget Louisiana's Coast, Obama

[Louisiana1976]

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The Obama administration has made available more money for actual recovery in the Gulf of Mexico states than his predecessor, President Bush. Such monies are critical for communities from Texas to Florida, hit by repeated major hurricanes since the 2004 season to recover. Still, recovery efforts in Louisiana in the national media tend to focus around the recovery of New Orleans. True, one of America’s treasured cities sustained a crippling blow from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and could not possibly recover without federal assistance. However, without restoration of lost wetlands, all of the levee improvements will not keep New Orleans dry indefinitely.

Forensic investigations by Team Louisiana researchers at Louisiana State University concluded that levees, with wetlands, held up the best to Katrina’s storm surges. The Louisiana coast has lost over 2,100 square miles of land since the 1930’s, and unless some of that land is restored, New Orleans and other coastal communities will have a hard time surviving. The Louisiana Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation sent a letter to President Obama requesting that he take part in a flyover to view the damaged and disappearing coast. It does not appear that the President will have time to engage in such a survey.

Without a strong and meaningful financial commitment from Washington, there can be no sustainable Louisiana coast. Promises mean little. Appropriations speak volumes. President Johnson promised a comprehensive protection system for New Orleans after Hurricane Betsy in 1965. That system is still not complete. President Bush promised money and aid for recovery after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but fell short on following through. Now President Obama has a chance to make a meaningful commitment to the coast, but is only focusing on New Orleans for this visit.

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http://www.examiner.com/x-25866-Baton-Rouge-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m10d13-Dont-forget-our-coast-President-Obama