[StBernard] COE public meeting

[Westley Annis]

Please post this because if I hadn't received a mailed notice on March 20th
sent to me from the Corps, I wouldn't have known about it. I must have
missed the news in the paper and on sbpg.net because this is really
important for St. Bernard citizens. This is an excerpt from what the COE
notice said.---
 
LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN AND VICINITY HURRICANE PROTECTION PROJECT 
 
The COE is conducting a series of public meetings regarding the Hurricane
and Storm Damage RIsk Reduction Project. The meeting is to obtain comments
from the public. Ideas and issues taken will be incorporated into the
National Environmental Policy Act NEPA for the individual projects. The
meeting will be a presentation on the proposed work with a question and
answer session  and then participants may speak about their issues, impacts,
comments are. The COE will also accept written comments by mail within 30
days  of the meeting. 
 
April 4, 2007 8201 West Judge Perez Chalmette, LA
 
Congress has authorized the COE to investigate, design, and construct a 100
year hurricane protection system in the N.O. area. Questions can be
addressed to Gib Owen  at 504-862-1337 or
mvnenvironmental at mvn02.usace.army.mil. 
 
End of COE information
 
My message to you is below----
NOW, IN PLAIN ENGLISH AND PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. THIS IS ABOUT SAVING ST.
BERNARD. COASTAL RESTORATION IS A SLOW PROCESS AS IT WILL TAKE MUCH LONGER
TO REBUILD THE LOST LAND THAT PROTECTED OUR COMMUNITY. THE COE IS FOLLOWING
CONGRESS' DIRECTIVE TO PROVIDE A PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR THE 100 YEAR STORM.
REMEMBER MY POSTING ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS. WESTLEY, MAYBE YOU CAN REPOST
THAT. 
 
THEY HAVE FOUR ALTERNATIVES-
 
THE FIRST IS TO BUILD ALL LEVEES/FLOODWALLS  TO NEW HEIGHTS TO HANDLE THE
SURGE. THIS CAN'T BE DONE DUE TO TIME, MONEY, RIGHT OF WAY, ETC. ,MANY
SECTIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE 28 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
 
THE SECOND, THIRD, AND FOURTH ALTERNATIVES INVOLVE FLOODGATES AT VARIOUS
LOCATIONS TO BLOCK THE GIWW AND MRGO SURGES AND EVERYTHING EAST OF THOSE
GATES HAS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE HUGE SURGE, i.e. FLOODWALLS AND LEVEES 28
FT. OR MORE.
 
ANY OF THESE FOUR PLANS REQUIRES BILLIONS WITH A CAPITAL "B". CONGRESS HAS
AUTHORIZED $350 MILLION WITH A CAPITAL "M" SO FAR.  FURTHERMORE,  THE
ABSOLUTE SOONEST THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE is 2011 IF THE ENGINEERING,
ENVIRONMENTAL, LEGAL, FUNDING, ETC. CHALLENGES ARE OVERCOME  QUICKLY,
ACCORDING TO THE CORPS. 
 
THAT MEANS FIVE MORE HURRICANE SEASONS OF HAVING WHAT IS IN PLACE NOW. SO,
YOU ASK, WHAT IS IN PLACE NOW?  ANYTHING THAT FAILED IN KATRINA HAS BEEN
REPLACED TO ITS PRE-KATRINA AUTHORIZED ELEVATION, WHICH IS NOT A 100 YEAR
STORM.  IF A FLOODWALL DIDN'T FAIL, IT REMAINS TODAY AS IT WAS BEFORE THE
STORM, REGARDLESS OF HOW FAR IT IS BELOW WHAT IT SHOULD BE. SOME, BUT NOT
ALL, LEVEES HAVE BEEN RAISED TO THEIR PRE-KATRINA AUTHORIZED ELEVATION. THE
NOT ALL PART BOTHERS ME AND SHOULD BOTHER YOU, TOO. THE CHAIN IS ONLY AS
STRONG AS THE WINKEST LINK.
 
Stay tuned to announcements to the public by others during National
Hurricane Conference regarding what level of protection St. Bernard has
until the 100 year storm protection is in place.  
 
If you only attend one public meeting in your life, go to this April 4th
meeting. Get involved. Be  heard. Listen to the plans, Ask questions.
Nothing else matters but flood protection. Deborah Keller