Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Hurricane Katrina

This study was written in November 2004.  Scary stuff about the worst case scenario, which seems to be very close to the truth.  
In this hypothetical storm scenario, it is estimated that it would take nine weeks to pump the water out of the city, and only then could assessments begin to determine what buildings were habitable or salvageable. Sewer, water, and the extensive forced drainage pumping systems would be damaged. National authorities would be scrambling to build tent cities to house the hundreds of thousands of refugees unable to return to their homes and without other relocation options. In the aftermath of such a disaster, New Orleans would be dramatically different, and likely extremely diminished, from what it is today. Unlike the posthurricane development surges that have occurred in coastal beach communities, the cost of rebuilding the city of New Orleans’ dramatically damaged infrastructure would reduce the likelihood of a similar economic recovery. And, the unique culture of this American original that contributed jazz and so much more to the American culture would be lost.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

We had our first student come in yesterday from New Orleans--a senior who had lived in New Orleans since birth. They have lost everything and the father is legally blind on social security. He and I had to talk through his last three years of high school so I could come up with a transcript. We're providing school supplies and job applications and word will go out to the faculty today for food and clothes and furniture. They had to keep leaving the room for the tears. Please pray for them and all the others like them--I had four calls from high school students in the same situation yesterday.

Anonymous said...

It does sound amazingly like what is really happening now!
How is the house hunting going?
love you guys, Nancy