It’s true that the levees worked, but its success this time by no means guarantees it will stand firm next time
Flooding in Lafitte, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida broke its levees. Photo: Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock As Hurricane Ida lashed New Orleans on Sunday, the Category 4 storm pushed almost a dozen feet of water from the Gulf of Mexico up toward the Crescent City, threatening to send the contents of the ocean spilling down into a metropolis that for the most part sits below sea level.
The New Orleans levee system, rebuilt at a cost of $14 billion after Katrina, featured numerous upgrades: The new flood walls are stronger, they’re rooted deeper in the ground, and they’re designed to hold up even if water goes over them. The Army Corps of Engineers also erected a massive storm surge barrier around Lake Borgne and closed a canal outlet between the river and the gulf, which had funneled storm surge into the city during Katrina.
The most notable failure was in the town of Lafitte, just south of the city. As Ida rolled north, a massive storm surge of around 12 feet overtopped the ring of seven-foot-tall levees that surround the town of around 2,000 residents, inundating almost every home and business.
For a town like Lafitte, whose seven-foot levee proved no match for Ida, it might seem like the best response is just to build a taller levee: Revise the storm projections upward, figure out the new height, and pile on more dirt. This has been the standard response at most levels of government for much of the past century and a half.
Horowitz views the risk of a levee failure like the one that occurred in Plaquemines Parish as part of life on an unpredictable planet. As he sees it, living in the shadow of a levee is rational for the same reason getting on an airplane is rational: There’s a certain amount of risk involved in doing anything or living anywhere.
Deutschland Neuesten Nachrichten, Deutschland Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Why New Orleans' levee held and what experts worry about next'We need to invest now for the future. That's the lesson we've learned from the investment in the levees,' said Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy.
Weiterlesen »
Tornadoes hit New Jersey, flash flood warnings in New York as Ida remnants blast throughMultiple tornados swirled through New Jersey, ripping apart and flattening homes as the remnants of Hurricane Ida pummeled the tri-state area with furious downpours on Wednesday.
Weiterlesen »
Hurricane Ida Pounds New York/New Jersey Area, Bringing Floods, Tornadoes And Extreme DangerHaving done heavy damage in the southern US, Hurricane Ida still had enough left to cause havoc in the New York metropolitan area tonight. Flooding in the New York City subways and train lines, and…
Weiterlesen »
At least 8 killed in New York City and New JerseyNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency after flash floods from the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the Northeast Wednesday evening -- including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Follow here for the latest news.
Weiterlesen »
Emergencies declared in New York, New Jersey as Ida batters, floods regionAt least two deaths were reported after a tornado struck southern New Jersey and a flash flood emergency was declared for New York City.
Weiterlesen »
Flooding in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut from storm Ida: Live updatesNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency after flash floods from the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the Northeast Wednesday evening -- including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Follow here for the latest news.
Weiterlesen »