Someone Better Start Practicing Their Backstroke
Or at least learn to levee-tate.
Parts of New Orleans are sinking far more rapidly than scientists first thought, more than an inch a year, new research suggests.
That may explain some of the levee failures during Hurricane Katrina, and it raises more worries about the future.
The research, reported in the journal Nature, is based on new satellite radar data for the three years before Katrina struck in 2005. The data show that some areas are sinking four or five times faster than the rest of the city. And that, experts say, can be deadly.
“My concern is the very low-lying areas,” said lead author Tim Dixon, a University of Miami geophysicist. “I think those areas are death traps. I don’t think those areas should be rebuilt.”
We’ll be spending lots more money for what appears to be a limited return.
Dokka also thinks all is not completely lost. Smarter construction can buy New Orleans some time.
“We’ve made the pact with the devil by moving down here,” he said. “If we do things right, we probably can get another 100, 200, 300 years out of this area.“
“If we do things right” means not doing them the old way, cher. And wasn’t re-electing Mayor Noggin a great ‘first step’ away from the past?
Dolts.
I have such hope for the future…and my tax dollars.
Life | tree hugging sister | 
June 1, 2006 11:31 am
Subscribe
Maybe NOLA will look like this in the future?
Whoa. If NOLA ever looked that absolutely freakin’ COOL as HELL I’d move in about ten minutes.