New Orleans. Levees useless again. People on their roofs.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Rerun

... All those people on their roofs that have to be saved...

I hope the government sends them a bill for rescue costs...

Idiots.

Easy to say but I wonder whether you'd abandon your home if called upon to do so. You don't strike me as the type who'd leave your home knowing it would probably be looted.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Anyone who wants to let New Orleans go probably hasn't been there yet. Definitely has it's issues, but man is an awesome and unique town.

Ya I've never left the continent (I've been all over it though) so this is purely speaking from a N.A. standpoint, but New Orleans is the coolest city I've ever been to. And as for the OP, so far thats the only levee that's broke, and I believe its not one of the new ones. They're built almost twice as high/strong this time, and holding very well.

As a Saints fan my twitter feed is keeping me updated on this just because all the beat writers/players keep tweeting about it, but so far New Orleans has been holding quite strong, so far it looks like damage is going to be very minimal given the circumstances anyway (knock on wood).

EDIT: The worst thing about this storm is its moving very slowly for a hurricane, so rainfall accumulation is obviously an issue.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Easy to say but I wonder whether you'd abandon your home if called upon to do so. You don't strike me as the type who'd leave your home knowing it would probably be looted.

Thats what I have insurance for. Its just things. Your life isn't worth "stuff". These people have been warned and had plenty of notice to get their s**t together and leave. Its not like this has never happened before.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Thats what I have insurance for. Its just things. Your life isn't worth "stuff". These people have been warned and had plenty of notice to get their s**t together and leave. Its not like this has never happened before.

New Orleans is a pretty poor community overall. Outside the affluent areas I don't think a whole lot of people have insurance. I agree its silly they refuse to leave and risk dying in the process, but I'm guessing this is everything they have, so I can understand why they stay to protect it.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

New Orleans is a pretty poor community overall. Outside the affluent areas I don't think a whole lot of people have insurance. I agree its silly they refuse to leave and risk dying in the process, but I'm guessing this is everything they have, so I can understand why they stay to protect it.

Well if the water is high enough that they're standing on their roof, they're f***ed anyways, so what was the point in staying to guard their "stuff".

Now the government has to spend money to get their stupid @sses off their roof.

Charge 'em for the rescue costs I say.

[BlackRedGold25]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

New Orleans is a pretty poor community overall. Outside the affluent areas I don't think a whole lot of people have insurance. I agree its silly they refuse to leave and risk dying in the process, but I'm guessing this is everything they have, so I can understand why they stay to protect it.

They might also not have the means to get out or a place to stay if they leave.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Thats what I have insurance for. Its just things. Your life isn't worth "stuff". These people have been warned and had plenty of notice to get their s**t together and leave. Its not like this has never happened before.

Funny thing about that is when you're living on food stamps in one of the poorest areas of the country shelling out close to $1000 for insurance per year often falls down the list of priorities.

[zamler]

The almost complete destruction of the wetlands is responsible for New Orleans being largely unprotected from storms. And the levee system is barely adequate, it is only a matter of time before they are breached again. Worse is controlling the flow of water has actually contributed to the dramatic shrinking of the wetlands.

[polak]

Originally Posted by valo403

Funny thing about that is when you're living on food stamps in one of the poorest areas of the country shelling out close to $1000 for insurance per year often falls down the list of priorities.

I've got a sinking feeling that some of these people might be flooded with regret at this point...

[valo403]

Originally Posted by polak

I've got a sinking feeling that some of these people that those people might be flooded with regret at this point...

I think you might want to try that again

[polak]

Originally Posted by valo403

I think you might want to try that again

I swear to god I'm developing dyslexia or something...

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by First Lady

Story and pictures paint a very different perspective.

Oh, New Orleans has problems? You don't say.

A lot of it is run down and dirt poor. There's no two ways about it.

It also has one of the most unique cultures in NA, and some of the most down to earth-friendly people I've ever met. It's not a rich town by any means, but there's something about it, that when you visit, you can't help but become a fan. It gave the world Jazz music (Jazz fest down there is downright awesome) and fantastic creole/cajun food scene has some of the best chefs and food in the country.

I'd take 1 New Orleans for 10 Houstons or Oklahomas or Cincinattis of the world.
It's nowhere near perfect, but it has something most cities today don't have. Character.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Oh, New Orleans has problems? You don't say.

A lot of it is run down and dirt poor. There's no two ways about it.

It also has one of the most unique cultures in NA, and some of the most down to earth-friendly people I've ever met. It's not a rich town by any means, but there's something about it, that when you visit, you can't help but become a fan. It gave the world Jazz music (Jazz fest down there is downright awesome) and fantastic creole/cajun food scene has some of the best chefs and food in the country.

I'd take 1 New Orleans for 10 Houstons or Oklahomas or Cincinattis of the world.
It's nowhere near perfect, but it has something most cities today don't have. Character.

I second basically everything in your post. I've been to NOLA 3 times in the past two years because I love it that much. From the history, to the food, the culture, the music, the laid back attitude towards life, and the bars on Bourbon. Once someone pays the city a visit they will argee New Orleans is worth all the effort put in to rebuild / maintain it. It cannot be replaced.

[saskflames69]

New Orleans would be a great place to live if they built it on higher ground. Like somewhere near Baton Rouge.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by saskflames69

New Orleans would be a great place to live if they built it on higher ground. Like somewhere near Baton Rouge.

Could they turn it into Venice with waterways?

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by zamler

The almost complete destruction of the wetlands is responsible for New Orleans being largely unprotected from storms. And the levee system is barely adequate, it is only a matter of time before they are breached again. Worse is controlling the flow of water has actually contributed to the dramatic shrinking of the wetlands.

Yup, it's all due to the fact that the Mississippi river wants to change its course (as rivers naturally want to do over time), but has been prevented from doing so so as not to bypass New Orleans etc. By being channeled the river is losing energy, causing sediment to be dump upstream and having to be dredged etc. This has led to most of the problems seen today with the wetlands, land erosion, etc. Time to set the grand ole miss free!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississ..._Delta#History

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Let nature run it's course and stop putting tax band-aids on protecting a sinking city.

I took a lot of heat for saying pretty much the same thing. I stated that if a city that is built under sea level should be able to flood and leave it. There is no reason to continue to fixing the mess.

[East Coast Flame]

Originally Posted by PIMking

I took a lot of heat for saying pretty much the same thing. I stated that if a city that is built under sea level should be able to flood and leave it. There is no reason to continue to fixing the mess.

Yeah! And all those idiots in California who live on the fault lines? Or those jokers who live in tornado alley? Screw all them too, right?

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by East Coast Flame

Yeah! And all those idiots in California who live on the fault lines? Or those jokers who live in tornado alley? Screw all them too, right?

Again, Something that came off the wrong way. I'm talking like the very low lining areas should be left after the flooding. Not the whole city.

No need to be a jerk about it.

[Azure]

From Reuters Twitter.

Hurricane Isaac causes $1.5 billion in insured losses in Louisiana and other states - Eqecat reut.rs/RZBkXf