...An Associated Press examination (click title to entry - thank you) of the properties sold to the government by homeowners New Orleans after the catastrophic 2005 flood has found that about $86 million has been spent on 5,100 abandoned parcels. And there's no end in sight to maintenance costs for perhaps most of the 3,100 properties that remain unsold....
Over 1100 people died during Katrina. That isn't enough for everyone? The people that sold their homes were wise to do it, but, the lingering reality of the devastation of the city and its people needs to stop.
New Orleans Ninth District was never respected as a dangerous reality. For as long as I can remember New Orleans sank due to oil and gas drilling. At the time of Katrina the sinking was 20 feet, more in some places. The city knew they were vulnerable and "The Big One" was considered folk lore by elected officials outside of the city'a Mayor.
Then reality came to visit and Katrina was that storm no one ever planned for except to place axes in their attics. The plan was that as the flood waters rose the people, the poor people of the Ninth Ward would hack through their roofs and escape to survive. That is exactly what occurred.
The Wetlands were devastated by the petroleum ships. The wetlands were not there to stop/tame the storm surge. So, Katrina delivered flood waters reaching 20 or move feet high. Those that lived through the storm in the Ninth Ward were amazing. They carried out the plan Mayor Ray Nagin helped instill for survival and they lived. He should be proud of that fact. It is a fact that the federal government didn't care about them and never enforced environmental protections to stop flood waters. There was never wetlands restoration. Governors, even today, that see the oil industry as necessary never considered those people important. Yet, billions of dollars US were spent on the after math.
It is time to let go. These lands are not safe. People have moved on and it is time to realize the pain is over and the healing has taken place as best it can.
The abandoned houses in the flood zone that are a problem for police should be bulldozed. The driveways and roads jack hammered to be impassible for drug activity, electric polls and lines removed and secured from the area to make it safe. And water mains shut off along with the removal of fire plugs. Then let the natural world take over. There is no reason to continue to hold on to lands that are too dangerous for homes. Katrina was right, it is time to give it up.
