[StBernard] St. Bernard

[Westley Annis]

Dianne,

I don't think you will ever have 100% protection, it's just not feasible.
Because of the topography of St. Bernard and the entire New Orleans area,
you cannot prevent flooding.

I do think you can minimize the amount of flooding and the damage that it
causes.  That's what you will get with a Category 5 levee protection system.
Instead of eight feet of water, you may be able to limit it to two or three
feet, or even less. You will also limit the area that is impacted.

There is always a chance of another surge, even with the MRGO closed.
Remember, as bad as Katrina was, it was not the worse case scenario.
Katrina started turning to the right before she came ashore.  What would
have happened if she had stayed to the left, with a westward tilt, and
followed the general path of the Mississippi River?

Think about it?  All the levee breaches were closer to the lake than the
river.  All the focus is on protection from non-river bodies of water.

When making a decision on whether to rebuild or not, there are numerous
issues you need to take into consideration.

* Which one of Mother Nature's weapons to you want to battle, hurricane,
tornado, earthquake, mudslide, firestorm,or snowstorm?  The answer to this
question will tell you which area of the country you want to live in.

* In St. Bernard Parish, which neighborhood do you think has the least
chance of flooding?

* Can you build a house to minimize your chances of flooding?

* How much are you willing to spend to minimize flooding?

You are right, there is no guarantee that it will be another 40 years before
we have another Betsy or Katrina, and the chances of it being 40 years does
look pretty slim.  And, I think at this point everyone needs to forget their
"old" neighborhood.

Rebuild in St. Bernard, but be ready to rebuild in a different spot.  In
most aspects driving down Benjamin St in Buccaneer Villa was no different
than driving down Mumphrey Road in the St. Mark neighborhood.  The houses
were all of the same style.

The people of St. Bernard made up the neighborhoods and I have in areas
throughout Arabi and Chalmette.  If you live in St. Bernard Parish you will
always find a welcome face next door to you and across the street.

You won't find that in too many other places.

Westley

-----Original Message-----

Westley,
 
Do you really think that we will be protected if we rebuild.  If they only
repair the levees to pre-Katrina status, we have just as much chance of
being flooded next year as this, maybe all the parish would not get the
flood water but Buccaneer Villa would.  If they don't close MRGO there is
still a chance for another surge, so what's the use in rebuilding, I know it
took 40 years since Betsy, but the storms are fiercer and plentiful now.
Give us your true opinion.
 
Dianne