[StBernard] Rodriquez Returns From Holland

[Westley Annis]

Rodriquez Returns From Holland 

January 15, 2006

By: Steve Cannizaro


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Rodriguez says Holland's flood control technology is impressive but would
require some 'tweaking' here.


St. Bernard Parish President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez said he was impressed
by  Holland's flood control technology on a study trip there from Jan. 9-13
and said some of it could be applied here.

"A lot of it would be applicable but it would have to be tweaked some,''
Rodriguez said Saturday, Jan. 14, after returning from a tour he was invited
on by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, and attended by numerous other
members of the state's congressional delegation as well as Gov. Kathleen
Blanco.

Also attending from St. Bernard were Charles Reppel, Special Assistant to
Rodriguez, and Walter Leger, co-chairman of St. Bernard's Citizen Recovery
Committee. Other area parish presidents who were on the trip included Benny
Rousselle of Plaquemines Parish and Charlotte Randolph of Lafourche Parish

"I think it was worthwhile,'' said Rodriguez, who paid his own way for the
trip. There will be a second study trip to Holland in March and St. Bernard
may send Council member Ricky Melerine, who represents the easternmost part
of the parish, and Bob Turner, director of the Lake Borgne Basin Levee
District, the state agency that handles levee maintenance and pumping
stations in St. Bernard Parish, Rodriguez said.

One impressive structure, Rodriguez noted, was "a floating gate for water
control on a river,'' but said its drawback is it takes two hours to close.
"That wouldn't be practical,'' he said. But he said, "Their dedication,
technology and financial resources (applied to flood control)'' are unique.

Some areas of Holland are 22 feet below sea level, much lower than St.
Bernard, and the country had its Katrina-like storm in 1953, resulting in
numerous deaths, after which it has developed a system for keeping the North
Sea at bay.

"We have tides 1-2 feet and they have tides 8-10 feet,'' Rodriguez noted.

He said he was struck by the fact that Holland doesn't have flood insurance
protection available for purchase by its residents. But the government
provides help in the event of major flooding, he said.

While there, the Americans met with Melanie Schultz Van Haegen,
vice-minister for Transportation, Public Works and Water Control. "I think
we forged a working agreement with their Public Works people and they
promised to be of assistance.'' Rodriguez said..

Rodriguez also kidded that the Dutch might "learn from us'' on how to manage
traffic. "They have bad traffic jams.''