[StBernard] In Unanimous Vote, Plaquemines Parish Adopts Flood Elevation Guidelines

[Westley Annis]

Khaki, 
 
If I remember correctly, a good while back, someone else questioned why the
parish had not yet accepted FEMA's reccomendations.  Craig gave a great
explanation and maybe he could do so again.  I understood it as this--Prior
to Hurricane Katrina some areas in the parish were going to be upgraded to
Flood Zone B--which would have been great.  After Katrina, FEMA in its
infinite wisdom decided that all would be better if folks just raised their
home a few feet.  Their decision wasn't based on good scientific testing,
levee improvements/repairs etc. I remember Craig saying that they were
hoping that FEMA would re-evaluate their decision because once the parish
accepted the guidelines, it would be virtually impossible to get them to
change their ruling once science and evidence proved that raising structures
the 4 feet or so wasn't necessary.  I'm pretty sure this is what Craig said.
If I'm wrong I'm sure Craig can clarify.  If my memory could serve me a bit
more, I thought at one point Orleans Parish was supposed to hold off on
adopting the guidelines as well as St. Bernard in an attempt to get FEMA to
rethink things.  I could be wrong, but somewhere that rings a bell.  Maybe
if other parishes had been thinking ahead, they would have held off to and
all parishes would have had some leverage.  I don't know about you, but
think it's safe to say that raising most houses 4 feet wouldn't have helped
much.  Now if they were talking about raising the levees....
 
Janet