Why bother rebuilding?

[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

 

[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

 

[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.