I just got an email from a local activist with an update on the Corps’ activities. Or lack of. If you live in N’awlins, think about sending your Congress Critters this letter he included, or one modeled on it.
Here are the problems addressed in the letter, that remain on the Corps “to do” list:
1) 17th Street canal
When high storm surge is present and the 17th Street Canal floodgate is closed, the pumping capacity at Pump Station No. 6 for the Hoey’s Basin has effectively been reduced from 9,500 CFS to 1,100 CFS. This will greatly increase the possibility of flooding during a hurricane event. While the Corps has repeatedly committed to increasing the temporary pumping capacity, we are approaching the height of the hurricane season without adequate pumping capacity.2) Harvey Canal
Despite earlier announcements by the Corps to the contrary, the sector gate in the Harvey Canal will not be ready for this hurricane season. Furthermore, the construction of the flood walls along the east side of the Harvey Canal has yet to begin, leaving adjacent neighborhoods exposed to surge bypassing the gate. Hurricane Rita pushed the current interim protection to the limit.3) SELA Projects
Although additional funds have been allocated for SELA projects in Jefferson Parish, no additional work has been authorized. The Corps has been extremely slow in completing the necessary steps to proceed with construction of additional SELA projects.4) Roof repairs on Westbank Drainage Pump Station roofs
Roofs that were damaged during Hurricane Katrina on several Westbank pump stations remain damaged despite earlier promises by the Corps of Engineers to repair same. Electrical panels and generators are exposed to the weather as a result of this. The Corps is now saying that repairs cannot be completed for months. This makes for a dangerous working environment for the pump station operators and could lead to pumping capacity being lost if the electrical panels get wet and short out.5) Backflow problems
The Corps has yet to begin to address the permanent backflow problems at Jefferson Parish Drainage Pump Stations. The Parish’s temporary solution of idling the pumps will not provide the higher reliability that a positive closure can provide. The Corps recently announced that they would be advertising for an engineer in July to begin plans and specs to address this concern. If this is not expedited, necessary improvements will not be in place for the 2007 hurricane season. This backflow during Katrina was the cause of flooding in over 63,000 homes in Jefferson Parish.
The letter sums up the feelings of many New Orleans area residents, but phrases it a good deal more politely than most of us would:
The Corps currently lacks an appropriate sense of urgency as it relates to the above items. Despite publicly committing to numerous timelines to address the above issues, deadlines come and go without these problems being addressed.
As a resident of Jefferson Parish, I call on you to hold the Corps accountable and take whatever steps necessary to have the above issues addressed in a timely manner. The Corps’ excuses and failure to perform can no longer be tolerated.
These videos are a good example of what the Corps has accomplished in Louisiana with your tax dollars. It must no longer be tolerated.
