Saint asked: Why is it that people complain about New Orleans getting rebuilt, because its below sea level, when other places are even in more danger, but people don’t seem to mind rebuilding there. What makes us less important then the rest of the country?
Maybe cause;
Partly it’s because the news media views New Orleans as a “bad news” story for the Bush administration. The media is campaigning for a Democrat to be the next President so nothing positive is ever reported about the federal efforts here. Watch for the change if a Democrat is elected in November (especially if it’s Hillary Clinton). The incoming Democrat will be given credit for “saving” New Orleans even before they take office in January.
Partly it’s because New Orleans has always been tolerant of alternate lifestyles, and that resulted in many **** sermons from “pastors” and “reverends” who said NOLA was destroyed for our sins. After all, the bars don’t have to close, stores sell alcohol on Sundays, and there are even strip clubs - obviously New Orleans DESERVED to be visited by the Wrath of God. Right?
Partly it’s because of out-and-out racism. The video of looters helped cement any stereotypes people elsewhere might already have.
Partly it’s because people think New Orleans is only about Jazz, Mardi Gras, and Bourbon Street. They don’t realize NOLA is an essential element of the USA’s critical national infrastructure and it CAN’T be moved. They also seem to think New Orleans is only the French Quarter (10 blocks by 13 blocks) and don’t realize it is a metro area with a population well over a million.
Partly it’s because of the awful performances by ex-Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin. No one likes a loser. In this case, twin losers.
also
New Orleans is not below sea level. Most of the city and metro area are above sea level and the parts below are usually only a little below SL.
New Orleans is NOT prone to being hit by hurricanes and - despite at least one answer - has NOT been repeatedly flooded. The last hurricane to strike the city before Katrina was Betsy in 1965, which did not flood the city-proper. Before that was a storm in 1947 (hurricanes weren’t named until the 1950s), which also did not flood the city-proper.
New Orleans had a very high rate of flood insurance coverage at the time Katrina hit - one of the highest in the nation. I don’t know where this idea that “no one in New Orleans had insurance” comes from, but I see it all the time.
Katrina was the most powerful storm ever recorded to strike North America. It would have flooded any coastal city, but it happened to hit New Orleans.
Nowhere is without risk. New York, Baltimore, & Miami are much greater risk from hurricanes than New Orleans. Los Angeles and San Francisco have been rebuilt after multiple earthquakes. The Midwest is hit by tornadoes every year. Seattle has to worry about volcanoes and even Tsunamis. Florida is hit by hurricanes almost every year. And so on - but somehow ONLY New Orleans is “unworthy” of being rebuilt.
Go figure.
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