Then We Knew

Dragoon68 · Sep 9, 2005

What have people known about the subject of New Orleans and the threat it faces from hurricanes?

Washing Away

Selected Extracts from Washing Away:
[qb]... It's only a matter of time before south Louisiana takes a direct hit from a major hurricane. Billions have been spent to protect us, but we grow more vulnerable every day. ...

... What would have happened if Hurricane Georges hadn't turned aside at the last moment? This graphic package shows what experts say. ...

... Each year the world's tropical waters spawn a little more than 50 cyclonic storms that earn the label of hurricane, typhoon or cyclone. The chance of one hitting New Orleans may seem low, but history says we're due. ...

... Whether they're called hurricanes, typhoons or cyclones, they are the most devastating weather events - churning masses of wind and rain that cause swaths of damage up to hundreds of miles wide at points along paths a thousand miles long. ...

... It's a matter of when, not if. Eventually a major hurricane will hit New Orleans head on, instead of being just a close call. It's happened before and it'll happen again. ...

... Once it’s certain a major storm is about to hit, evacuation offers the best chance for survival. But for those who wait, getting out will become nearly impossible as the few routes out of town grow hopelessly clogged. And 100,000 people without transportation will be especially threatened. ...

... Improvements in forecasting have greatly reduced storm casualties. ...

... Planning is the key to surviving a hurricane. Have a destination in mind and make arrangements for your loved ones, pets and home. Then when a storm threatens, leave. ...

... New Orleans and south Louisiana will always be vulnerable to a catastrophic hurricane, yet there are ways to make the area safer. But implementing the proposals may be prohibitively expensive. ...

... As more people settle on coasts and in other vulnerable areas, natural diasters have been getting more expensive. ...

... Across the country, development in disaster-prone areas is accelerating in the path of hurricanes, floods, wildfires and earthquakes. It's a recipe for catastrophe. ...

... Powerful computers now can predict where flooding will occur and what damage to expect. With that information, engineers can design better levees, and emergency preparedness officials can plan quicker evacuations and better relief efforts. ...

... Requiring that new structures be designed to survive Category 3 and stronger hurricane winds would save lives as well as buildings, and in the long run would save homeowners money. ...

... Insurance companies are pulling out. Oil and gas infrastructure is threatened. Flood-prone homes may be abandoned. Louisiana's economy is feeling the pinch from the risk of hurricane damage. ...[/gb]
Click to expand...

This is a detailed five part article published in 2002 by the Times-Picayune newspaper. If you read and digest 20% of this information you'll be better informed than most people.

Remember, this series was published three years ago.

People living on the Gulf Coast have been keenly aware of the risk from hurricanes. Each season everyone "sits on pins and needles" watching the forecasts and hoping the storms will hit somewhere else if not at all. They know it won't be a good thing if it hits their area. But, home is home wherever you live and you decide, for various reasons including limited options, to take the risk of living or working in the danger zone.

Useful Searches

Then We Knew

Dragoon68 Active Member