Chris Mooney is a freelance writer and the author of three books, The Republican War on Science, Storm World, and Unscientific America.
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Category: Hurricanes
Posted on: June 17, 2008 11:23 AM, by Chris C. Mooney
...we learn that New Orleans still can't necessarily withstand a strong Category 2. In other words, three years after Katrina, we still don't have the protections we were supposed to have before the storm hit. Gotta love the Corps, and its masters--Bush and Congress.
All this, and I've been hatching plans to head back New Orleans for my 31st birthday in September...right during the peak of the season.
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Comments
Remember, the chance of a hurricane landfall near a specific city in a specific year is small... But do check the forecast shortly before boarding the plane to NOLA.
Posted by: llewelly | June 17, 2008 11:29 AM
Chris,
Not to pick nits with your assessment, but where is your blistering attack on Congress? While I realize Corps bashing is (still) all the rage, the ACOE can't very well build Cat. 5 hurricane levees if Congress doesn't authorize and then appropriate the funds. For that matter, even if they do, and even with all the data the Corps has on the NOLA levees, I'm not sure they could have the entire system up to par in 3 years. All I'm asking is that, at this date, if you are going to point fingers at least point all the fingers at all the appropriate folks.
Posted by: Philip H. | June 17, 2008 12:17 PM
Philip H...the post *did* blame Congress...
Posted by: Chris C. Mooney | June 17, 2008 3:48 PM
So there's this flood headed down the Mississippi -- if it doesn't breach enough levees upstream to spread out over the historical flood plain, how much will it stress New Orleans?
Posted by: Hank Roberts | June 18, 2008 12:43 PM