[StBernard] Plaquemines Residents Debate Flood Protection Plan

[Westley Annis]

Plaquemines Residents Debate Flood Protection Plan
Residents: Army Engineers' Plan Leaves Areas Uncovered
WDSU.com
updated 2:45 p.m. CT, Sun., Sept . 20, 2009
NEW ORLEANS - WDSU .com

Plaquemines Parish residents expressed concern about a U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers flood protection program that they said fails to cover their
entire parish.

The residents held a levee meeting at Belle Chase High School to discuss
their options over the weekend.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' 100-year, multimillion-dollar flood
protection program covers only the northern part of the parish. Areas such
as Jesuit Bend and below are left unprotected under the plan, residents
said.

"I don't understand how this could possibly be flood protection," said Mike
Mudge, of Myrtle Grove.

Pete Stavros, a Jesuit Bend resident, said that many people are afraid of
the flood risk.

"I just think there's a lot of people that are scared about the flood risk,"
Stavros said. "(They're) scared they're not going to have affordable
insurance, and they're scared that their property values are going to go
through the floor."

Officials said that 17 percent of the parish lives in Jesuit Bend.

Parish officials attempted to allay the concerns during the meeting.

Parish President Billy Nungessor said that federal levees will provide
protection to areas left uncovered by the army's plans.

"From Venice North, we'll achieve 100-year protection outside the levee
system," Nungessor said. "When we get to Jesuit Bend, having a 100-year
levee will eventually have 500-year protection in Jesuit Bend."

Nungessor said he is set to travel to Washington, D.C., next week to meet
with Corps leaders and finalize a plan. If all goes well, the 100-year
protection plan could be in place by June 2011, Nungessor said.