[StBernard] Corps of Engineers Says it Will Reinforce MRGO With Rocks

[Westley Annis]

The Corps of Engineers said Thursday it will begin to reinforce the new
levee on the Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet in St. Bernard with rocks,
starting soon with a section of levee at Verret in the eastern part of the
parish, President Henry "Junior'' Rodriguez said.
 
"That's a plus for St. Bernard,'' Rodriguez said after making the
announcement to Council members at a committee meeting on Thursday. "St.
Bernard residents should be a lot more comfortable,'' about the condition of
the MR-GO levee system, knowing it will be reinforced.
 
The work should provide more protection for the levee system, which has been
rebuilt in the parish after Hurricane Katrina, Rodriguez said. "We
anticipated (the reinforcing work) would come in time,'' he said, but didn't
expect the Corps would be ready to begin the process so quickly.
 
No date for starting the work was announced, Rodriguez said, but he said
Corps officials estimated it would be soon.
 
The Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet levee system was rebuilt to more than
17.5 feet in St. Bernard Parish in time for the summer hurricane season.
 
Many St. Bernard Parish residents blamed the intense flooding brought by
Hurricane Katrina on failures of the federally-built MR - GO levee system.
But Rodriguez has said he is pleased with the job done in rebuilding the
levee by the Corps of Engineers.
 
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