New book describes most dangerous project in southeast Louisiana

Shirley Laska at Book Signing for Catastrophe in the Making.  Photo by Hubie Vigreux 9-22-09

Shirley Laska at Book Signing for Catastrophe in the Making. Photo by Hubie Vigreux 9-22-09

The authors of a just-released book describe what they think is the most dangerous project built by the US Army Corps of Engineers in regional New Orleans.

Catastrophe in the Making describes how the MRGO (Mississippi River Gulf Outlet) put New Orleans and nearby St. Bernard Parish in harm’s way by allowing salt water intrusion that killed protective cypress forests and buffering wetlands.

The book also explains how similar, equally harmful projects are going on in many places including the California Delta and metro St. Louis.

UPDATE: YouTube says this video has 13 honors including #12 most viewed today! (1pm CST October 8, 2009). That means this video is on the HOMEPAGE of YouTube where it can get the best exposure! You did it!

Click below for 2-minute video on Catastrophe in the Making: The Engineering of Katrina and the Disasters of Tomorrow.

2 responses to “New book describes most dangerous project in southeast Louisiana”

  1. Paul Amato says:

    I just heard one of your spokes persons talking to Chris Matthews. Your cause seems misguided and backward looking. If you want sympathy from engineers or anyone else, then you need to start talking about moving the New Orleans population in-land to higher ground.

    Trying to blame the Corps of Engineers on New Orleans problems is not helpful to your cause. If I was with the Corps today, I would decline future missions to New Orleans based on the attitude of some folks playing a blame game and the fact that rebuilding New Orleans would not be permitted if this was considered new construction.

    No engineer would permit construction in areas below sea level and near a body of water, and if NOAA building standards are applied then construction would not be permitted unless the structure is 35 feet above sea level and near a body of water.

    If the folks in LA and New Orleans want to roll the dice with their own money and global warming, then that is your right. American tax payers should not fund any repair or construction unless the structure meets NOAA building standards.

  2. S. Rosenthal says:

    The Corps cannot “decline missions” to New Orleans. By federal mandate, Congress decides what projects the Corps will do and how much money to spend to protect New Orleans from hurricanes.

    Further, it’s not true that “no engineer would permit construction in areas below sea level.” Most of Holland is below sea level and they have some of the most respected engineers in the world.

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