If the levies in New Orleans were only repaired to the level they were before, another storm could do more damage than before.
208582
I live in Slidell, LA on the northshore of Lake Ponchatrain and can tell you that the levies are barely up to the standards before Hurricane Katrina.  While politicians in the state and on the federal level complain and bicker, time is being wasted as the huirricane seaon is only a couple months away.  I have never lived in New Orleans directly but would advice people that it is not a safe place environmentally or sanitarily.  Basic power and water are not available to 35-50% of the New Orleans East and most of that area is virtually untouch since Katrina!!!  my career has directed me toward the MS Gulf Coast where I am seeing vast improvements to the area as opposed to New Orleans.  Please remember the Mississippi Gulf Coast when thinking of Katrina.  The devestation here is something that needs to be seen to believed.
298555
yes, and they will be rebuilding homes in New Orleans and other affected areas for years to come.\n\nmany people were put into temporary housing of one form or another, but as it was temporary,  many of these people are going to have to find other alternatives since it will take so long to recover the lost homes and businesses affected by Katrina.
164452
I agree with you, and I live in New Orleans. The chickens have finally come home to roost. Politicians have pushed their luck too far. Instead of doing the job right, they cut corners in the 1950's-the 1960's when the levees were built in order to fatten their own wallets, and now everyone who lives here is going to suffer for it.There will never be anyone prosecuted for this reprehensible act, because all those responsible are probably all dead by now.
582246
Those are likely still ongoing, especially as the material costs are just now being affected (what was already in stock was pre-hurricane in many cases). Here's what's been done already:
260751
There are levees that keep rivers from flooding out of their banks.  There are swamps and marshes that provide a buffer when a storm surge hits.  Breakwaters and barriers along some parts of the Louisiana shoreline that break up the waves before the wave can hit shore so that coastal erosion is reduced and the beaches can be rebuilt. \n\nNew Orleans also operates huge pumps that continually siphon water out of the city.\n\nNot sure what you're referring to, but hope this helps.
373895
The New Orleans vote might be for the Democrats due to unpreparedness of the Republicans in responding to the damage brought by Katrina.
646278
Contact your legislature and yell like hell. You guys had what? 5 hurricanes last year? The insurance companies are trying to save their own ASSets.
583830
Easily, thousands of dollars in damage can occur pretty easily at todays repair costs.
145940
We can't stop hurricanes.  We can only find ways that bring human death and property damages are brought to a minimum.
40138
It is mandatory that you have homeowners insurance in New Orleans and flood insurance in a flood zone, which many areas that weren't considered flood zones and had never flooded before had 8ft. of water.  Fema is thouroghly investigating each and every situation and requiring all kinds of proof of insurance from home owners to determine if they need further assistance after contacting insurance agencies, they are not just handing out checks!\nThe people that didn't have insurance were RENTERS, not just poor black people.  Fema is giving them money for personal property inside there home that was lost.  Wouldn't you want the government to help you get a new start in life after you just lost everything you owned and now left in a unfamiliar place?  I mean what were the people paying taxes for if when they have a major (devastation leaving them jobless) interruption in their lives they can't get some help!\nThere have been so many negative things said about the people from New Orleans, but how can anyone who has not gone through what they have gone through say what they should or should not be doing, how they should or should not feel. If you didn't have to go through it, you will never be able to understand how it fells to be in a city that is entirely covered by water (except the french quaters), with no lights, food, and water in extremely hot weather, sitting on a roof top or a bridge with your small children or sick elderly parents, watching dead people float by you, and there aren't enough boats and rescue workers so they have to take one or two of you to safety (the superdome?) hoping they will remember to go back and get the others before they die. Some people couldn't even make it to their attic in time and were found floating on a mattres with only a few inches between them and the ceiling(close your eyes and imagine that you were laying there hoping and praying that by the grace of God somebody finds YOU, when thousands of people were in the same or similar situation). \nMANDATORY EVACUATION WASN'T ISSUED IN THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS UNTIL SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2005. SOME HOURS BEFORE LANDFALL NOT SEVERAL DAYS.
12572
That depends if the government decides to make the same mistake again. It's the sad truth that very rarely does mankind actually learn anything from there mistakes. I find that rather pathetic. But maybe that's just me. I just wonder how many times that place is gong to be flooded and rebuilt before they remember their physics 101. When you build a city below sea level chances are, it will flood in a hurricane!!!
52796
Below is the link to the city of New Orleans.
619451
Well, they were like that way before the hurricane.  They were just trying to take advantage of the govt, when in fact we-the working taxpayers, are being taken advantage for because we pay for all this crap.  Why do you think the giant didn't wanted to help them right ways-so it clears the area a little bit from such people.
34123
More than likely yes. If the damage suffered will cost more to fix than the value of the car.
72172
It would depend on how many times they would need to recount the votes in Florida.
577741
No.  If government does anything, it should help to make more rental properties available to increase the supply.  This will reduce rents and help restore the city.  The city owns/holds many properties considered blighted.  This is from before Katrina.  Sell these off or clean them up and rent them out.\n\nTake other abandoned homes and do the same.  Encourage small business contractors to renovate rental units with grants, SBA loans, etc.  New Orleans banking is unique and steeped in history.  Maybe these local businesses can also help with easy loans and expedited processes.\n\nHow about take some of the empty projects (which are neat buildings) and partner with developers to renovate them into mixed-use housing?\n\nNew Orleans cannot afford any more government handouts, as they take decades to identify much less remove.
35066
You have a better chance of being struck by lightning.