Seven years after Katrina made mincemeat of the city's flood protections, Hurricane Isaac is bearing down on the Crescent City. Ingrid Norton looks at what's different this time around.
Although only a Category 1 storm at this point (Katrina struck as a Category 3), Hurricane Isaac is predicted to deliver a direct hit to New Orleans late tonight or early tomorrow in the largest test yet for the city's flood defenses, rebuilt at a cost of $14 billion.
According to Norton, "The oncoming storm is also a test for Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who was
elected in 2010 with a broad mandate to reform the city's legendarily
dysfunctional bureaucracy and modernize its infrastructure, including
emergency communication systems and transit systems necessary for
evacuation proceedings."
"So far, Landrieu appears to be winning the confidence of colleagues in
government as well as residents who say his improvements, such as
upgrades to the city's 311 system, are helping keep panic levels low. In
stark contrast to his predecessor Ray Nagin, who had a skittish
relationship to the public throughout his two terms in office -
including, infamously, during Katrina - Landrieu has maintained clear
and consistent communication throughout the buildup to the storm, with
his staff live-tweeting press conferences and issuing emergency warnings in Spanish and Vietnamese."
FULL STORY: Daily Seven Years After Katrina, Isaac Tests a Stronger New Orleans
Report: $14 Billion New Orleans Flood System, Completed Less Than a Year Ago, Already Obsolete
The Army Corps of Engineers is already assessing the needs of repair work on a project it completed in May 2018 at the cost of $14 billion.
Hurricane Nate to Test New Orlean's Drainage System
Nate will make landfall southeast of New Orleans on Saturday night as possibly a category 2 hurricane after leaving at least 22 dead in Central America. It's not so much the levees but the pumps and generators that have city officials worried.
New Orleans Faces $1 Billion Shortfall for FEMA-Funded Roadwork
After years of delays, cost overruns, and deadline extensions on a FEMA-funded street repair program, New Orleans officials face a massive funding shortfall and accusations of mismanagement.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service