New Orleans? Your opinion: fix it? OR give it up to the Forces of Nature?

Question

Just seeking opinions.....

Should we put MILLIONS (or more?!?) into fixing New Orleans!

Answer 1

Why put millions into something that sits below sea level.  Just let it go and move on.

Answer 2

Why do you all seem to think New Orleans has had to be frequently rebuilt?  That would be Florida and California - NOT New Orleans.

NOLA has had to be rebuilt ONCE since it became a US city in 1803, and that was because the federally-built levee system failed during Katrina due to being negligently constructed.

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 topic of the city’s future is discussed.  However, those factors (while significant) are NOT why NOLA is important to the rest of the United States.

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

There is a widespread myth that New Orleans is "built below sea level”, but that is not true.  Most of the city is above sea level, and the parts BSL are neighborhoods built in the 20th century on drained swampland.  Swampland subsides after it is drained.

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.

Note that New Orleans is NOT "prone" to hurricanes or being flooded. The last one to hit before Katrina was in 1965 and before that was in 1947. Neither of those flooded the city proper like Katrina, which was the strongest storm ever recorded to strike North America. Gustav was a near miss.

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 3

Rush Limbaugh says what?

Answer 4

Why should "we" put in anything? Don't they offer insurance in New Orleans? If "we" don't pay for this, the free ride class will leave and responsible people will move in and take over.

Go look up the date New Orleans was founded. It was never a problem until we created a class of helpless people totally dependent on the government.

Should we give up on California too? Why don't "we" have to put millions into that place when it burns or mud slides or earth quakes?

Answer 5

Will you please tell me who has the money to keep rebuilding this city?

I live on the coast/the Florida Pan Handle, we understand that if you can't afford to rebuild your home on the beach, if a storm hits, then you don't live there. No insurance covers beach houses!

RELOCATE...RELOCATE...RELOCATE....NEW ORLEANS!!!!

Answer 6

just put a gigantic bubble over the entire city

Answer 7

NO! No more Federal money to fix what should never have been put there to begin with. All the people who went down there to build and fix and nurse etc., it was all a waste of time. I bet the new houses are gonna be gone this time, too! New Orleans will get no money from me this time.

Answer 8

No...they could rebuild in areas above sea level.  Besides NO has to many politicians with their hands out.  Look at Mississippi, that state was devestated as well, but they didnt shoot each other.  They just started fixing things up.