[StBernard] St. Bernard Officials Blame MRGO for Massive Flooding

[Westley Annis]

Parish weighs suing Corps of Engineers 
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
By Manuel Torres
St. Bernard/Plaquemines bureau 
Blaming the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet for most of the flooding in St.
Bernard Parish during Hurricane Katrina, parish officials said they are
considering suing the Army Corps of Engineers and the New Orleans Dock
Board, which respectively maintain and use the shipping channel. 

The Parish Council on Monday authorized the administration to consult with
attorneys about whether the parish should sue the agencies, saying the MR-GO
served as a corridor for Katrina's surge to reach St. Bernard neighborhoods.
The Aug. 29 hurricane flooded the entire parish. 

Some of the water entering the parish also came from breaches in the levees
on the Industrial Canal. But some officials say the water from the MR-GO was
responsible for the brunt of the flooding. 

"We've tried everything to get the corps to look at MR-GO as a hazard," said
Councilman Mark Madari, who sponsored the resolution suggesting the suit.
"Since they don't listen to our pleas, I think it's time for us to consider
a lawsuit." 

Corps spokesman Alan Dooley on Tuesday said the agency had no comment.
Officials with the Dock Board could not be reached. 

St. Bernard officials have for years criticized the MR-GO, a shipping
channel to the east of the parish extending from the Intercoastal Waterway
to the Gulf of Mexico, saying it would give storm surges a direct route into
the area. They said Katrina proved their argument. 

Corps officials, however, have said that Katrina's surge, estimated at more
than 20 feet, would have flooded the area with or without the MR-GO. The
surge topped a 17-foot-tall levee along the shipping channel, leaving
portions of it nearly destroyed. 

Council Chairman Joey DiFatta said the parish will first ask District
Attorney Jack Rowley if his office can handle a potential lawsuit. Private
attorneys would be hired on a contingency basis, he said. 

Officials said they may discuss the issue at a town hall meeting scheduled
for today at 10 a.m. at the Council Chambers in the government complex in
Chalmette. 

In other issues, the council on Monday: 

-- Announced that the Red Cross plans to keep its disaster relief center
open in Chalmette until Sunday. The center, which opened last week in the
parking lot of the new Wal-Mart store along Judge Perez Drive, has
distributed about $1 million to more than 1,600 families, Red Cross
officials said. The aid is available to families living in the areas
affected by Hurricane Katrina, including all of St. Bernard Parish.
Residents need to show identification and a utility bill or other proof of
residence in order to apply for the money, which they will receive as a
check a few weeks later. Red Cross officials said the center is open from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. The center also distributes free meals. 

-- Imposed a moratorium on repairing or building multifamily dwellings in
the parish, saying it wants to review zoning codes to designate areas for
multifamily housing before allowing further construction. 

-- Instructed the administration to distribute a $2 million donation from
the Murphy Oil Refinery in this manner: two-thirds of the money to the
parish government, including the fire department; and one-third to the St.
Bernard Sheriff's Office. 

. . . . . . . 


Manuel Torres can be reached at mtorres at timespicayune.com or (504) 352-2543.