If Gustav flattens New Orleans again, will the US government waste more resources rebuilding it again?

Question

Am I the only one who thinks it's beyond stupid to live in a bowl-shaped valley that happens to be prone to hurricanes? What's so great about New Orleans besides the jazz music and a few neat French mansions?

Answer 1

It would be a waste of money, but If the government said that you can't go back where you live, p**p would hit the fan and I am sure that would happen if the government did that.

Answer 2

Hold on buddy and watch your mouth. You are talking about peoples lives and livelihoods. Most of those people were born and raised there and don't have the resources to just up and move. Your question and your way of thinking is just all around ignorant. If you ask this question why not ask why do people in the midwest stay there when it floods every year and hey while you're at it ask the people who live in tornado alley why they live there huh. Most people live where they live because they have to not because they want to and as far as your comment about the government "wasting" more resources; If the government would have made sure the levees and the land development was done properly in the first place it wouldn't be an issue now would it and besides it's never a "waste" when it comes to peoples lives.

Answer 3

Lets think about that one...

A white president in offfice. A white republican running.

The first black president running for office and very close.

A large black population living in New Orleans.

Kind of no-brainer..

Answer 4

Have you ever been to New Orleans while you were awake? This city has a rich history and culture that is unlike any in our other states. There is more to New Orleans than the French Quarter and Jazz music. ( zydeco) Their accent is wonderful, their restaurants are awesome, their tours are great, they have the only above ground cemeteries that I personally have ever seen and some of the nicest people I have ever met. And no, I do not live in New Orleans or in any other Louisiana city. New Orleans is a one of a kind city. Yes, it has it's "seedy" side, but all cities have some of that. When my husband and I used to travel (before Bush came along and ruined the economy) we made many trips to New Orleans and had a fabulous trip every time. There is much to see!

Liberty: You are so entitled to your opionion. But does that mean that people in Florida should all move, how about North and South Carolina...they get slammed too, and don't forget states in tornado ally; Arkansas is where I live and the midwestern states that are battling all of the flooding, and don't forget the states where they have had such terrible drought, and gosh, I forgot about the states that are hit with earthquakes. OMG! Where do you think we should all move?

Answer 5

I kind of think the "hold on buddy' guy was joking...

or at least I hope so. Most people these days believe in survival of the fittest, evolution, or at the least societal evolution.

Not that I think that these people should die because they chose to live there.. quite the opposite, in fact. I worked for a charity that evacuated people out of there free of charge. But... my problem is that they return there when the area is clearly a wasteland prone to hurricanes in the NEAR future. Hey, it's happening again today??!!

Some of our funding to evacuate these people was used instead of flying people in need of urgent medical treatment to the hospitals.

It really, honestly, SICKENS me that this is happening again. Some little child will not get their kidney because some selfish person had to move back to New Orleans, and the pilot is too busy saving their *** to help the kid.

Gahhh... it makes me sick.

It's time to move already. New Orleans is a blight on the whole of the United States. We spend bajillions rebuilding it once (oh yeah, 3/4 of that went to pad the pockets of those that DIDN"T EVEN NEED IT!)

And, we're probably going to do it again.. at the expense of all of us.



From now on, NO MORE FEMA. THose that choose to live in a disaster zone should do so at their own risk, and of course, private charity's will help, but at least they won't be a burden to the rest of us that are losing our homes and drowing in taxes.

Answer 6

If someone wants to build a home in a risky area I absolutely believe they should be allowed to. HOWEVER I most definitely believe if they are that DENSE that they should incur the cost of the destruction! Why should I pay for someones stupidity. And as to the "nice comment on the anniversary of Katrina" remark... Give me a break! I'm human and I feel for every family effected by ANY disaster but that doesn't excuse a lack of common sense. Hate me if you will but this country needs to STOP PAYING for people to re-build in ANY area of the country that is routinely hit by natural disasters!

Answer 7

If the hurricane desstoys the city again, I think its time to close down new orleans!! I agree new orleans sux

Answer 8

lol, I basically just asked the same question. Hopefully, between the two questions, we'll find a good answer. I'm just as in the dark about it as you are.  

Answer 9

First, most of New Orleans is above sea level.  It's a port and - in case you didn't know - ports HAVE to be close to the ocean.

Second, New Orleans is NOT "prone to hurricanes".  The last one to hit before Katrina was in 1965 and before that was in 1947  Neither of those storms flooded the city like Katrina. We do not yet know where Gustav will go, and it may strike Houston.  Should Houston be abandoned if it does?  Florida really IS "prone to hurricanes" but I don't see you suggesting Florida is worthless.

In any event, New Orleans is not optional. History, architecture, culture, and the fact the city is home to many people are usually mentioned when the city's future is discussed.  However, those factors (while significant) are NOT why NOLA is important to the rest of the United States.

New Orleans is a metro area of almost 1.4 million people – not some small town that could be easily relocated somewhere else.

More than 35% of America's energy is either produced in Southeast Louisiana or imported through here, and the infrastructure is focused on New Orleans. What may be the largest oil field on earth was discovered offshore of Louisiana in 2006, and it will be exploited via New Orleans.

The Port of New Orleans is the largest or second largest port in North America each year (tons of cargo) and one of the top ports in the world each year. The Port of New Orleans is not replaceable.

More than 25% of America's petroleum refining capacity is in the New Orleans area. That percentage will increase due to a new refinery already under construction and the planned expansion of existing refineries.

A large percentage of America's non-petroleum chemical industry is here.

New Orleans is one of only three principal east-west transportation points for the USA, and the resulting convergence of water, rail, pipeline, electricity, and highway links is not replaceable.

A large percentage of America's ship building & repair industry is in New Orleans.

NASA builds essential parts for the space shuttle in New Orleans, and will build components for the next generation of spacecraft here. Other manufacturers (ex. Bell-Textron) have factories in New Orleans.

A large percentage of America's seafood comes from SE Louisiana, and the distribution network is focused on New Orleans.

And so on….

It is theoretically possible to move the industry and the population, but only at horrific cost. The Mississippi river, Gulf of Mexico, and the oil fields cannot be moved. To even attempt to replace New Orleans would cost Trillions of Dollars and the attempt would fail.

In contrast, New Orleans can be protected from future hurricanes with the expenditure of about $15 Billion (that should have been spent before Katrina) spread out over a period of a decade.

Realize that nowhere is without risk. NYC and Miami are at more risk from hurricanes than New Orleans. Los Angeles and San Francisco are at risk from earthquakes and fires. Seattle is threatened by volcanoes and Tsunamis. The Midwest is hit by tornadoes every year. However, I don’t hear anyone claiming New York, Florida, California, Kansas, or Washington (state) be abandoned, or even not rebuilt after the next disaster.

However, people routinely claim New Orleans should be abandoned, or that we somehow don’t deserve help after Katrina.

Why is that?

Answer 10

That's a horrible thing to say! People live there, and no matter "how great it is" New Orleans is home to hundreds of thousands of human beings who deserve help, and to have houses to go home to after a disaster like this. I think, as long as there are people living there, the government should help them as much as they can. Not everyone can pack up and move states, even if they had to save their lives. That unfortunately is the sad reality. Hopefully they won't have to rebuild that much...and that not as many people die...if at all.

Answer 11

I don't know, but the Government built it in the 1800's (don't anyone read historical novels or history books?) at the cost of many lives (Yellow fever, accidents, murders, etc....) and they have an obligation to take care of the citizens!!!

I love it, and have enjoyed my visits  (almost moved there)!!!

New Orleans stands for something 'Old World"!!!  New Orleans is a beautiful city!!!

When crime started to fester there, it was ignored for years, for different reasons (Mardi Gras, tourist attraction, drugs, etc....)!!!  The city is full of honorable, decent, old-world families!!!  It is a shame that some of the 'old mansions' were, or could be, destroyed!!!

We are all still feeling the results of Katrina (crime from displaced citizens, Fema's mishandling of funds, criminals, cons, fraud, the President's uncaring stance, etc...) and I am sure we will all 'pay' again.  

(A few months ago, my county was declared a 'State & County Disaster' because of flooding.  My apartment flooded three times in as many weeks, but Fema gave me nothing.  Everything that I had in the apartment was ruined --furniture, bedding, linens, clothes, and , most devastating, pictures that I can't replace.  Fema, Red Cross, County & State did nothing!!!)

I feel sorry for what the people in New Orleans face again!!!  Criminals and Cons will profit once more!!!  [I have a paper that I picked up in Atlanta months after 'Katrina' about how that woman named Hogg (she looked like one, too) took advantage of a college student trying to help!!!].  The "Bush"government helps who, or what,  they want to help!!!

New Orleans is a beautiful city!!!  Keep the good 'Jazz' blaring!!! (At least it isn't 'Rap-which isn't music at all and has no home, just idiots & cons from the streets all over the United States, telling of the disrespect they feel!!!)

Go SAINTS!!!  Go O'Briens -- home of the 'Hurricane'!!! Aaron Neville & his family!!!  Fats Domino & his Blueberry Hill!!!  Louis Armstrong!!!

GOD BLESS & WATCH OUT FOR NEW ORLEANS!!!

My prayers are with New Orleans!!!

('Katrina' hit 3 years ago on my brother's birthday and we are facing the same thing today -- August 30th!!!)

(Gustav--isn't that a 'n**i' name?)