Why bother rebuilding?

[Curious Mickey]

I know I'll be flamed away but why rebuild New Orleans? Why not just leave it under water as a lost city?

Think of how expensive and time consuming reconstruction will be:
-fixing the levees and pumps
-rebuilding infrastructure and roads
-cleaning up water and ground pollution
-replanting the dead vegetation
-bulldozing all the buildings since they can't be structurally sound sitting in water for as long as they will be. The mold would just be rampant.
-dealing with everything that's IN the water now (dead animals, snakes, flooded above-ground cemetaries, and whatever else is rotting away)

Why not just relocate New Orleans a little to the North?

[Beauty]

I'm not from New Orleans but I can tell you why to rebuild the Coast,

Because its home! It has history, it has memories, its beautiful. Should we just go ahead and relocate Miami? What about Key West? Tampa? The Space Coast? Mobile, Pensacola.

[Southern4sure]

Are you saying if you lost everything you own except the clothes on your back that you'd want to leave the home you had probably your entire life? Would you call your "home" worthless?

[aprilgail2]

Are you saying if you lost everything you own except the clothes on your back that you'd want to leave the home you had probably your entire life? Would you call your "home" worthless?

I would be afraid to go back to my "home" if it was under 25 feet of water, mold, parasites and who knows waht else will be breeding everywhere.....if everything has to be torn down then it is no longer "home" to me...if my job was gone then I would surely set up home someplace else.....

[jgmklmhem]

IMO I do think parts need to be rebuilt. Especially the essential port. I also think the history that is left should be preserved as best as possible as well. I do think however that building it to the point of a major city again might be too much just based on geography (the whole bowl thing and the fact all the weight was causing the city to sink).

[Doc and Family]

I may be wrong, but it appears as if the OP didn't have the guts to post the question under his/her real name.

They sure seem to understand a whole bunch about posting here..getting flamed, etc., to have that as their first post.

Anyway, the question about rebuilding is legitimate..then again, why rebuild San Francisco after the earthquake, or areas on California's west coast after the mudslides?

The area around New Orleans was my home for 43 years and I can see pros and cons to rebuilding...but I think the people that still live there, or choose to return there as the case may be...should be entitled to the same opportunities as those who live on fault lines are on sides of hills that wash away...they should be given the chance to rebuild their "homes"...whatever we may think of them.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[thelionqueen]

I know I'll get flamed, but I am ready. I know there is a lot of history in the area, I know it is historic and people's homes. With all that said, it is BELOW sea level!! Undoubtedly, without question, this is going to happen again. It may be in a few years, it may be in a few decades, it may be next week, but it will happen.

Why spend all that money to rebuild, when you are going to have to do it again and again?

Why not build sensibly in an area that is somewhat protected from this type thing? I know every area has it's own vulnerabilities, but building a city, next to a huge lake and below sea level is questionable.

I am not suggesting anything at all except the location is unbelievably unstable and will go through this again at some point. I know what has been lost is absolutely unbearable, but wouldn't it be even more unbearable to rebuild it just to have it destroyed again??? Just my thoughts :flower:

[OceanAnnie]

I may be wrong, but it appears as if the OP didn't have the guts to post the question under his/her real name.

They sure seem to understand a whole bunch about posting here..getting flamed, etc., to have that as their first post.



::yes:: I've noticed a lot of new posters that have started similar threads lately. Interesting.

[wdwpjs]

So in other words people need to build only where it is safe??? How about the beach? The beautiful cliffs in Ca., along the rivers in Tenn.? Iknow I will get flamed here but i just dont agree with that!!!!! I grew up in NO and would go back and live there again. Pensacola had Ivan last year and had alot of devastation. I drive out of my neighborhood everyday and see houses that are still unrepairable. (i live near the beach). We came together and rebuilt northwest Fl. just like NO will be rebuilt. If nobody rebuilt after a natural disaster then where would people continue with their lives????

[lucky_bunni]

Honestly, I've thought about that too. Why spend the money and all the time rebuiling in an area that will almost certainly be destroyed again... at any time? However, like others said there is a history there just like other American cities that sit on not-so-ideal sites. New Orleans deserves the same opportunity to rebuild. I hope there is some way to rebuild that particular city smarter though. I'm not an engineer, but if the whole city will basically be leveled, isn't it possible to build most of the land up to sea level? No doubt it would be a huge job but now that they're starting with pretty much a blank slate. Look what they can do now with land reclaimation (HK Disneyland) or building land up such as for WDW. It would be a larger scale perhaps. I think it would be unthinkable to rebuild with the same or similar water control systems and rebuild the entire city at the same level.

[bengalbelle]

Why not just relocate New Orleans a little to the North?
Just a little to the north, where?

[eeyore kelly]

My heritage is in NO. My ancestors settled there. I know it will be a pain to rebuild, but it is one of the oldest cities, and has one of the biggest ports in the world. You can't run a port from a little north of NO.

I can understand the sentiments, but once you understand the history and what it gives to this country, I don't see how you can't rebuild it.

If I follow the OOP's logic on NO, does that mean she wants to relocate gulf port, ocean springs, biloxi, and mobile up north. Or how about we relocate california a little east because they have those pesky landslides and earthquakes, or we will relocate florida up north, becaue it just sticks out there begging a hurricane to hit it. And we will relocate the southern east coast a little west because a hurricane could hit it too.

Following this logic will all end up in the plains states. Oh wait, we will have to relocate them to because of tornado alley and the mississippi river can flood.

Hmmm... where would we all live?

[goin2disneyagain]

I'm not from New Orleans but I can tell you why to rebuild the Coast,

Because its home! It has history, it has memories, its beautiful. Should we just go ahead and relocate Miami? What about Key West? Tampa? The Space Coast? Mobile, Pensacola.

Key West, Tampa, Miami and Pensacola are not at least 80% flooded and destroyed. I understand what the OP is saying. They can rebuild but that area should never have been a city to begin with due to it being below sea level. This will most likely happen again.

Also understand that a lot of people being interviewed can not even fathom the idea of coming back. They don't have a home anymore so they don't have anything to come back to. A lot of these people will probably end up relocating to the cities they are being evacuated to. It may bring back too many bad memories for some people to go back.

[tiggersmom2]

YES...it should be rebuilt and re-engineered as it should have been DECADES back!!! Scientist knew this catastrophy was going to happen and wrote articles about it countless times. I am sure the politicians knew too! This grand city should be rebuilt and given the attention it needed years ago.

[FoodLover]

[QUOTE=thelionqueen]it is BELOW sea level!!QUOTE]

Yeah, well, so is The Netherlands. Maybe we should move Holland a little bit to the East. I'm sure Germany won't mind.

This whole debate is so incredibly offensive at a time when we haven't even resolved the initial crisis. As many as a million Americans have just found themselves suddenly displaced and homeless. Comments like "we shouldn't even bother rebuilding New Orleans" are terribly harmful to the morale of those who are struggling to put their lives back together.

I guess it's not bad enough that the survivors of this disaster have no place to live right now -- let's also suggest that they will never be able to go back to the city they (and in many cases, their ancestors going back almost 200 years) have called home! Nice.

Really, how insensitive can you be?

[LisaR]

[QUOTE=thelionqueen]it is BELOW sea level!!QUOTE]

Yeah, well, so is The Netherlands. Maybe we should move Holland a little bit to the East. I'm sure Germany won't mind.

This whole debate is so incredibly offensive at a time when we haven't even resolved the initial crisis. As many as a million Americans have just found themselves suddenly displaced and homeless. Comments like "we shouldn't even bother rebuilding New Orleans" are terribly harmful to the morale of those who are struggling to put their lives back together.

I guess it's not bad enough that the survivors of this disaster have no place to live right now -- let's also suggest that they will never be able to go back to the city they (and in many cases, their ancestors going back almost 200 years) have called home! Nice.

Really, how insensitive can you be?


This is a discussion board. People are discussing possibilities, theories, ideas, etc. I am not saying this with the slightest bit of insensitivity but I am POSITIVE that this discussion is NOT "harmful to the morale of those struggling to put their lives back together." Those people are looking for food, water and showers right now. They are not surfing the Dis. I don't see any harm in discussing this. Personally, I am not sure if they should or shouldn't rebuild the city. I like reading others opinions on the subject. Sorry that you find it so insensitive. I find it interesting.

Lisa

[mark&sue]

I am from the UK and have visited US seven times now but did not visit New Orleans as too busy going to WDW, DL, Las Vegas and New York. I feel I have missed out on seeing such a beautiful city. I hope it can be rebuilt and more people visit and make it a prosperous place to live and work in the future.



Susan

[FoodLover]

I am POSITIVE that this discussion is NOT "harmful to the morale of those struggling to put their lives back together." Those people are looking for food, water and showers right now. They are not surfing the Dis.

You just don't know how wrong you are. 80% of the city evacuated before the storm, remember? The majority of those folks are either in hotels or staying with family and friends. They sure as hell ARE here on the DIS and other boards, eagerly watching the news, etc.

I think I can speak with some authority on this subject since my husband's immediate family, as well as other extended family and friends are all in the situation I just described. They are spread all over the country and more stressed than you can imagine. Most are glued to the computer, which is currently the only source of "local" New Orleans news.

Most of them are still a bit in denial... imagine trying to accept that your comfy middleclass existence is gone and you may have to start your life completely from scratch. They just want to go home and see if they have a house left! Their lives are on hold. They don't know how long it will be before they can go home. They don't know whether to put their kids in school where they're living now, or what. Their jobs are gone. Their friends are scattered to the winds.

Justify your musings all you want as an intellectual exercise. It's damn personal to those who are suddenly homeless, I can tell you.

[LisaR]

You just don't know how wrong you are. 80% of the city evacuated before the storm, remember? The majority of those folks are either in hotels or staying with family and friends. They sure as hell ARE here on the DIS and other boards, eagerly watching the news, etc.

I think I can speak with some authority on this subject since my husband's immediate family, as well as other extended family and friends are all in the situation I just described. They are spread all over the country and more stressed than you can imagine. Most are glued to the computer, which is currently the only source of "local" New Orleans news.

Most of them are still a bit in denial... imagine trying to accept that your comfy middleclass existence is gone and you may have to start your life completely from scratch. They just want to go home and see if they have a house left! Their lives are on hold. They don't know how long it will be before they can go home. They don't know whether to put their kids in school where they're living now, or what. Their jobs are gone. Their friends are scattered to the winds.

Justify your musings all you want as an intellectual exercise. It's damn personal to those who are suddenly homeless, I can tell you.


I do understand what you are saying. However, I still stand by my comment that we are NOT offending them by discussing this subject matter. Those people that do have access to a computer are not surfing the Dis boards. They are looking for factual information. They are not looking for personal commentaries from a bunch of us that aren't there. This is nothing more then a discussion board and that is exactly what people are doing.......discussing things.

Lisa

[FoodLover]

Those people that do have access to a computer are not surfing the Dis boards.

Wrong. Maybe you should look down the list of threads on this very forum. I see several on the first two pages that were started by people who evacuated New Orleans!

Yep, it's a discussion forum. That means I get to discuss what I think, too. And I think people who suggest just abandoning an entire city and "moving it a bit North" are both insensitive and ignorant.

That's all I have to say on this subject. I'm moving on to something more constructive now.

[MARYPOPPINSFREAK!!!]

why don't they build something to stop the hurricane?

[bcarson]

I think the city should be rebuilt if and when they can assure that it is at least suitable for a category 5 hurricane. To rebuild as it was would be ludicrouis. I think it should be rebuilt for tourism, shipping and for economical use. But to put people back living in a bowl would be crazy we will just be doing this all over again. At least these people would have somewhat of there city back and still be safe.

I have to agree that I don't think we are offending anyone either with a simple discussion. Personally if this had happened to me I would certainly want to go back and see what could be salvaged and the extent of the damage. But I would pick up the pieces and go somewhere else. No place would feel enough like home to ever make me go through that again.

[paigevz]

Tourism, shipping and economics require staffing. Those people will need a place to live. When people live somewhere, they need goods and services. And then THOSE workers need a place to live.

You can't have a whole area where there is any kind of activity without locals.

Not rebuild New Orleans? How could we not? The USA without New Orleans?

[aussie disney fan]

As a foreigner, from the other side of the world I can see the logic and the sentiment in both rebuilding or not, but to me it seems stupid to rebuild on land that is sinking etc, or to build on a fault line as in california or on a cliff that is crumbling etc. but instead of worrying about those issues, what about the kids without schools, shelter, clean water or a community. I think that relocating to existing communities, pump in public money to upgrade schools, increase aid to start small business, thus helping re-start struggling little communities effected by the down turn in the economy. I'm sure many small towns or even larger cities would love to see growth in public spending, the increase in economy with new jobs, skilled labor, kids in school etc.
Instead of looking back at what is lost, look forward to the many great possibilities and opportunities that this situation now presents you.

[Florida_Mom]

I heard on FOX news last night that they CAN build levees to withstand a Cat. 5 hurricane. It is possible. Also, on the CNN website I read this:

In the Netherlands, much of which lies below sea level as in New Orleans, there was some consternation that the Louisiana city was so poorly prepared, AP reported.

The nation installed massive hydraulic sea walls known as the Delta Works after devastating floods in 1953.

"I don't want to sound overly critical, but it's hard to imagine that [the damage caused by Katrina] could happen in a Western country," Ted Sluijter, press spokesman for Neeltje Jans, the public park where the Delta Works are exhibited, was reported as saying by AP.


So, perhaps we can prevent this from happening again. It's people's homes, it's a part of our history and a unique part of our nation's culture. We should rebuild, but let's protect it.

[bengalbelle]

As a foreigner, from the other side of the world I can see the logic and the sentiment in both rebuilding or not, but to me it seems stupid to rebuild on land that is sinking etc, or to build on a fault line as in california or on a cliff that is crumbling etc. but instead of worrying about those issues, what about the kids without schools, shelter, clean water or a community. I think that relocating to existing communities, pump in public money to upgrade schools, increase aid to start small business, thus helping re-start struggling little communities effected by the down turn in the economy. I'm sure many small towns or even larger cities would love to see growth in public spending, the increase in economy with new jobs, skilled labor, kids in school etc.
Instead of looking back at what is lost, look forward to the many great possibilities and opportunities that this situation now presents you.
All of that is happening and has been for days.
The children are being enrolled in schools as we speak. They may enroll at any school in Louisiana that is near their evacuation point. Many of them are in East Baton Rouge Parish and surrounding parishes.
Other states are allowing evacuees to enroll in their schools.
Displaced teachers have been given a contact number to try to get them placed in school.
It's being reported locally that some businesses are relocating to Baton Rouge, though I have no specific names to list here. Local businesses are calling into radio stations and visiting shelters offering employment opportunities. Businesses from out of state have been sending representatives here to interview people who are skilled or may be quickly trained and some are offering assistance to relocate to their areas.

[pattyT]

UNDER SEA LEVEL

not like torato alley or california mud slides

Under Sea Level

SOMETHING needs to be done - they cannot rebuild it as it once was -
It does need to be the port that it is

[bengalbelle]

I do understand what you are saying. However, I still stand by my comment that we are NOT offending them by discussing this subject matter. Those people that do have access to a computer are not surfing the Dis boards. They are looking for factual information. They are not looking for personal commentaries from a bunch of us that aren't there. This is nothing more then a discussion board and that is exactly what people are doing.......discussing things.

Lisa
You are wrong. There are many here from New Orleans and Louisiana and I promise you many of us are enraged and completely offended at the suggestion that a city so much a part of our history and the history of the UNITED STATES could be so casually tossed aside. Let's see someone suggest that New York or DC be abandoned because they're surely to be hit with a catastrophic terrorist attack, or California should be relocated because it will surely be hit by a catastrophic earthquake. Perhaps for a moment you should ask yourself how you would feel if you could never return to your home, job, neighbors, family...everything you've ever known and your entire way of life. Put yourself in the shoes of every other Louisiana resident whose lives would be dramatically and irreversiably affected by the loss of tourism and trade in New Orleans.
Discuss the topic all you want but don't dare speak for me and suggest that I'm not hurt and offended by your comments.

[LisaR]

You are wrong. There are many here from New Orleans and Louisiana and I promise you many of us are enraged and completely offended at the suggestion that a city so much a part of our history and the history of the UNITED STATES could be so casually tossed aside. Let's see someone suggest that New York or DC be abandoned because they're surely to be hit with a catastrophic terrorist attack, or California should be relocated because it will surely be hit by a catastrophic earthquake. Perhaps for a moment you should ask yourself how you would feel if you could never return to your home, job, neighbors, family...everything you've ever known and your entire way of life. Put yourself in the shoes of every other Louisiana resident whose lives would be dramatically and irreversiably affected by the loss of tourism and trade in New Orleans.
Discuss the topic all you want but don't dare speak for me and suggest that I'm not hurt and offended by your comments.


For starters, I NEVER was one that suggested they don't rebuild the city. All I am saying is this is a DISCUSSION board. People are discussing possible situations, pros and cons, etc. It doesn't matter what I think, what you think or what anyone else on this board thinks because this is NOTHING MORE THEN A DISCUSSION BOARD.

I can't imagine what it would be like to lose everything. However, I wouldn't rely on what people on a discussion board think. We aren't the powers that be when it comes to deciding if the city will be rebuilt.

The person that I was originally responding to made it sound like this was something that should not be discussed because it would offend those that are homeless. Again, discussion boards = discussing things. If you don't want to read what people feel should be done to the city, then you shouldn't read things posted on a discussion board. There are plenty of FACTUAL sites out there. A discussion board is nothing more then opinions. And most of those opinions come from people that do not have any first hand knowledge of the situation, myself included.

Sorry if that offends you. I will stop posting on this thread since it is obviously a hot button for some of you and because I honestly do not have a strong feeling one way or another if the city should be rebuilt. However, if I did feel strongly one way or the other, I wouldn't hesitate to post my opinion on a discussion board.

Lisa

[eeyore kelly]

You are wrong. There are many here from New Orleans and Louisiana and I promise you many of us are enraged and completely offended at the suggestion that a city so much a part of our history and the history of the UNITED STATES could be so casually tossed aside.

Discuss the topic all you want but don't dare speak for me and suggest that I'm not hurt and offended by your comments.

ITA with bengalbelle!

[Desiree]

ITA also with Bengalbelle

[bengalbelle]

For starters, I NEVER was one that suggested they don't rebuild the city. All I am saying is this is a DISCUSSION board. People are discussing possible situations, pros and cons, etc. It doesn't matter what I think, what you think or what anyone else on this board thinks because this is NOTHING MORE THEN A DISCUSSION BOARD.

I can't imagine what it would be like to lose everything. However, I wouldn't rely on what people on a discussion board think. We aren't the powers that be when it comes to deciding if the city will be rebuilt.

The person that I was originally responding to made it sound like this was something that should not be discussed because it would offend those that are homeless. Again, discussion boards = discussing things. If you don't want to read what people feel should be done to the city, then you shouldn't read things posted on a discussion board. There are plenty of FACTUAL sites out there. A discussion board is nothing more then opinions. And most of those opinions come from people that do not have any first hand knowledge of the situation, myself included.

Sorry if that offends you. I will stop posting on this thread since it is obviously a hot button for some of you and because I honestly do not have a strong feeling one way or another if the city should be rebuilt. However, if I did feel strongly one way or the other, I wouldn't hesitate to post my opinion on a discussion board.

Lisa
Your words:
This is a discussion board. People are discussing possibilities, theories, ideas, etc. I am not saying this with the slightest bit of insensitivity but I am POSITIVE that this discussion is NOT "harmful to the morale of those struggling to put their lives back together."

I do understand what you are saying. However, I still stand by my comment that we are NOT offending them by discussing this subject matter.

My point:
Discuss the topic all you want but don't dare speak for me and suggest that I'm not hurt and offended by your comments. Added: I am quite POSITIVE I am.

[zagafi]

I *hope* NO can be rebuilt and restored to its former beauty. My question--and I mean this with all sincerity--is where will all the necessary funding to do so come from? I can't imagine the astronomical expenses that will be incurred to rebuild almost the entire city.

God, I just feel so awful for those people. :-(

[LisaR]

Please accept my sincere apology. I was not trying to offend anyone. I can only compare my experiences with current events (and I am well aware of how much worse the situation in NOLA is compared with our hurricanes in FL last year but at the time it was a horrible experience). During the trying times, I do not recall coming to The Dis to post. If I had, it would have been to see if anyone had any info that I had missed. I wouldn't have cared what others felt my town should have done because they didn't live here. That is just me. I really just view this as a discussion board and nothing else. I like to hear what others think and I don't agree with them much of the time but I still like to hear it. It rarely offends me. However, I understand that these are different times. Much more stressful then anyone not going through it can comprehend. Everyone reacts and responds differently. I was not trying to offend. Sorry that I did.

Lisa

[lulu71]

I do understand what you are saying. However, I still stand by my comment that we are NOT offending them by discussing this subject matter. Those people that do have access to a computer are not surfing the Dis boards. They are looking for factual information. They are not looking for personal commentaries from a bunch of us that aren't there. This is nothing more then a discussion board and that is exactly what people are doing.......discussing things.

Lisa

Think again.

[lulu71]

My home is in one of what was a very nice neighborhood with a nice chunk of equity a week ago. How do you not rebuild from a strictly financial standpoint. Talking to my circle of friends, who are all young professionals, we are worried about the new landscape of the city. The nicer neighborhoods might be the hood when we can get back. We don't know. But from this group of thirty-somethings, we are either going to have to get jobs elsewhere for the time being, which most of us are doing, or return strong in our hope that our property will have some value. Example - one friend, a nurse, is working in CA for a month. Another, an attorney is working ion Houston. My DH, an executive with a shipbuilding company, is trying to find a location to operate to get contracts fulfilled. We all see this as a one-two year thing. I think once the dust is cleared, people will be looking to rebuild. I dunno, I just can't abandon my city. It will need people like us to get the economy back up and running.

[bengalbelle]

Please accept my sincere apology. I was not trying to offend anyone. Lisa
Thank you and accepted :goodvibes

[bengalbelle]

My home is in one of what was a very nice neighborhood with a nice chunk of equity a week ago. How do you not rebuild from a strictly financial standpoint. Talking to my circle of friends, who are all young professionals, we are worried about the new landscape of the city. The nicer neighborhoods might be the hood when we can get back. We don't know. But from this group of thirty-somethings, we are either going to have to get jobs elsewhere for the time being, which most of us are doing, or return strong in our hope that our property will have some value. Example - one friend, a nurse, is working in CA for a month. Another, an attorney is working ion Houston. My DH, an executive with a shipbuilding company, is trying to find a location to operate to get contracts fulfilled. We all see this as a one-two year thing. I think once the dust is cleared, people will be looking to rebuild. I dunno, I just can't abandon my city. It will need people like us to get the economy back up and running.
I'm saying a prayer for ya'll :grouphug:

[LSURyan]

here is a similar topic on the main community board.

Please reas my posts here. There are a few, and I did not want to retype them and do not know how to do those fancy quates you guys use.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=900047&highlight=lsuryan

[Disney Doll]

You know, I asked myself the same question a coupleof days ago, and the answer is because that area is someone's home.

I live in New England, born and bred. Am now living 10 minutes from where I was raised. My family is here. My history is here. My roots are here. There are things about New England that I love. There are things about New England that I would not be able to experience anywhere else in the country, or even the world. There are influences in New England that have made me "me"...good and bad.

If my entire town was destroyed by some disaster, it would still be "home".

A few years ago, DH & I bought a cemetery plot in the cemetrey across the street form my house. My DBIL asked me why I did that? What if I ended up retired in Florida?

My answer..."I'd still want to be buried at home".

It's the concept of home...for some the pull of "home" is strong, for some the pull of "home" is weak. But if you are one for whom the pull of home is strong, then there is no place else like it on earth.

[mum4jenn]

They must rebuild. I can say that because my home was flooded by the Flint River in 1994. It was a devastating flood and it was deemed the "500 year" flood. Our house was our home. We loved that place and it had so much character. We could have left it all and started all over but we chose to rebuild. The house was still standing but it did have some foundation problems that we were able to fix as best we could. All that was left after we had to tear out all the wet walls and such were the bricks and roof. It took over a year because my dh and his uncle did almost all the work but we were "at home". There was nothing like being able to spend your first night back in your home!! I was born in this town and I did not want to leave. However....that 500 year flood did not wait another 500 years. We had another flood in 1998. Water did not get in our hoses this time but we did have to evacuate again and after that the feeling was gone for us. We sold our home to FEMA and they tore it down and it was turned into green space. It was a hard decision but we did move to the next county over and started over in a brand new house. None of the character the old house had and we have never fit in with all the folks here in this neighborhood. We miss the old neighborhood even though some left and never returned.

It will be hard decisions for most of these people but if they want to go back thay should be able to go back.