Escape from Hurricane Katrina + Live Blog from N.O. Hell

[MaxKaladin]

That might be neat for the whole tourist industry. I just wonder if it would hold too many bad memories for the folks who live there.

Yeah, that did occur to me. I'm sure it would be bad for some people. I suppose it would depend on the person and how it was done. I suspect many of the people it would most affect may not be going back. I live in San Antonio (where we got 25,000 evacuees) and the sentiment I keep hearing on the local news is that a lot of evacuees don't feel they have any reason to return and intend to start over elsewhere.

I suppose, knowing they intend to rebuild the city, I keep trying to think of ways they can do so that don't depend entirely on holding lakes, rivers and oceans back from a bowl that's below sea level.

 

[wingsandsword]

I suppose, knowing they intend to rebuild the city, I keep trying to think of ways they can do so that don't depend entirely on holding lakes, rivers and oceans back from a bowl that's below sea level.

The oldest parts of the city, like the French Quarter, that were least damaged, were built the highest, the levees and below-sea-level parts of the city were newer developments. Perhaps rebuilding in other areas, which are above sea level, may be more sound.

And yes, I've also thought of the "American Venice" concept for New Orleans. My idea was to sink huge concrete pylons into the water as anchors, and build a city of arcologies and skyscrapers supported over the water, connected by skywalks and bridges, with the roads and interstates exiting to large complexes at the edge of the city where you can park and take mass transit elevated monorails, aquatic gondolas, or the skywalks and just walk around the city.

Since as much as 80% of New Orleans will have to be rebuilt, this is the US's first chance in modern history to really design a new city from scratch. (Washington DC was a planned city, but it was designed 200 years ago).

 

[MaxKaladin]

The oldest parts of the city, like the French Quarter, that were least damaged, were built the highest, the levees and below-sea-level parts of the city were newer developments. Perhaps rebuilding in other areas, which are above sea level, may be more sound.

That's what I'd prefer. Just buy the low parts that flooded, which are the new parts as you say, and rebuild people's homes elsewhere. Don't rely on the levys to hold or this will just happen again unless you really over-engineer the flood controls, which they won't for cost reasons.

And yes, I've also thought of the "American Venice" concept for New Orleans. My idea was to sink huge concrete pylons into the water as anchors, and build a city of arcologies and skyscrapers supported over the water, connected by skywalks and bridges, with the roads and interstates exiting to large complexes at the edge of the city where you can park and take mass transit elevated monorails, aquatic gondolas, or the skywalks and just walk around the city.

Since as much as 80% of New Orleans will have to be rebuilt, this is the US's first chance in modern history to really design a new city from scratch. (Washington DC was a planned city, but it was designed 200 years ago).

It sounds good to me. I wish they'd do it but I'm afraid they won't be so visionary (whoever "they" turns out to be).

Oh, here's an idea: If they don't go with flooded streets, build the arcologies with parking garages at the lowest levels. These will flood if another flood happens, but the cars should be gone because of evacuations. People's homes won't get flooded that way, just empty parking garages...

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

http://hurricanekatrinasucked.com/index.html

Some things that happened and some things that lead to what people say.