The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the governmental agency that oversees the design, construction and upkeep of the levees, thanks to the Flood Control Act of 1965. But who oversees the Corps of Engineers to ensure the design and implementation of the levees are structurally sound and able to withstand stronger hurricanes? No one.
No one until now that is…except for the fact that the Corps does not necessarily have to use, implement or acknowledge the advice and suggestions given by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority, American Society of Civil Engineers or the Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force. The levee system implemented in the 1980’s was based on a model from a 1959 report on hurricane strengths, which did not include Hurricane Betsy. So if the levees had been built to withstand Hurricane Betsy it would have been better suited to withstand Katrina, correct? Well, apparently a judge believes that homeowners have the right to make a case to hold the governmental agency responsible for the damage caused to St. Bernard Parish and beyond.
Though unlikely, my hope is that they build the levees to be bigger and stronger for the future of the great city of New Orleans. New Orleans was, after all, the birthplace of American music and without it where would any of us completely-music-obsessed-Hidden-Track-readers be?
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In other Nawlins news, check out Brad Pitt’s organization ‘Make it Right’ to help rebuild the Lower 9th Ward and his new tribute tattoo. Fear not – even Panic fans are getting involved with ‘Make It Right.’
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