I'm behind in my non-computer magazine reading... Saw a reference to this:

Move Beyond Sound-bites and “Armchair” Theories to Make the Nation Safer From Disaster, Engineers Say
Lessons from Katrina Studies Can Benefit Communities Nationwide

Reston, Va.—Almost two years have passed since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The nation has invested millions of dollars in research conducted by the world’s leading engineers and scientists. Do we now have definitive answers to what went wrong and, more importantly, can that knowledge make us safer?

In a report issued today by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), experts who have studied the disaster make public their opinions about what went wrong in New Orleans—and why.

___rest of the press release:

http://www.asce.org/pressroom/news/display_press.cfm?uid=3390

___the full report (PDF, 92pages):

http://www.asce.org/files/pdf/ERPreport.pdf

that is just like a bunch of engineers to ignore the real issues about race and republican arrogance and to just focus on the geological engineering aspects of our water cities.

How dare they.

That's right.

Why *be* safer, when you can *feel* safer.

Plus, it costs less.

This is such bullshit. What a fucking red herring.

You can't stop a hurricane.

The issues with New Orleans are:

1. The estuarys/wetlands that used to bear the brunt of the hurricanes are gone due to the lack of silt from the river.

2. Fucking local government wasn't prepared, wasted funds for disaster preparedness, and when it came, they got on their private jets and left town as cowards rather than stay and arrange for school busses etc to evacuate all those who wanted to evacuate, and the ones who didn't, wish them well and leave them to drown.

3. Fucking feds blocked access from Red Cross etc to enter city with supplies.

4. Fucking feds confiscated weapons.

5. Fucking feds held victims hostage at gunpoint in the stadium afterwards, refused to allow the supplies that aid agencies brought, shot at those who tried to leave, and let them go crazy and die in the stadium.

6. Fucking NOLA police are brutish thugs, all of whom should be executed painfully.

The feds *just* released the flood plain maps in April or May of this year, which prevented people from rebuilding prior to the maps being released. Rebuild your house too soon, and you may have to tear it back down to build it according to the requirements of the new maps.

They ought to disband FEMA and bring back the people who ran Civil Defense during the Cold War.

FEMA is there to "manage" the emergency.  CD actually knew how to prepare for emergencies.

FEMA worked just fine when it was run by competent individuals under Clinton.

As for Civil Defense, are we referring to the "duck and cover" folks?

No, not just the duck and cover stuff.