[StBernard] Armoring levees

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish Council members and Corps of Engineers officials are
looking into the possibility of using the slabs of demolished homes in the
parish to armor levees as a way to both rid the parish of foundations that
remain after storm-damaged houses are torn down while also providing
material for the Corps to use on levees.
 
"It's a wonderful idea and would make economic recovery go much faster,''
said Council member Judy Hoffmeister, who suggested an informal meeting held
Jan. 3 with Corps officials and contractors.
 
She and Council members Joseph DiFatta, Craig Taffaro and Mark Madary, as
well as parish government chief administrative officer Dave Peralta, met
informally with the Corps.
 
Chris Gilmore, the Corps project manager for levees in St. Bernard Parish,
said Corps officials would analyze the costs involved in removing home slabs
and using them to armor levees of the Mississippi River - Gulf Outlet in the
parish, versus paying to bring material by barge to use on St. Bernard
levees.
 
 "It's a good idea'' worth looking into, Gimore said after the meeting also
attended by Frank Vicidomina of the Corps and Lee Wall, a Corps contractor.
 
 Thirteen miles of levee have been deemed eligible for armoring, Gilmore
said. Barging in material has been estimated to cost $70 million or more.
 
 Taffaro said it would be a "win-win situation'' if the slabs could be used
for armor because removing slabs that can't be used for new homes is a goal.

 
There could be 6,000 demolished homes in the parish where the slabs are
left, parish officials have said.
 
 Council Chairman DiFatta said removing slabs is important because some are
"safety hazards'' which have pieces of razor-sharp wire jutting out and
could injure children tempted to play on them.
 
FEMA, while paying to demolish storm-damaged homes, hasn't agreed at this
point to pay for removal of slabs.