I have made bold and often scathing remarks about the Corps’ performance since our website kicked off on Dec 3, 2005. So naturally I was surprised last week, when the Corps called me.
More specifically, Dan Hitchings, Director of Task Force Hope (in other words, the TOP guy) requested a meeting. Dan had seen our signs around town that say “Hold the Corps Accountable!” and decided it was time to get together.
At 11 this past Wednesday, four of us – representing our 1500 members – showed up at the imposing COE building on Leake Avenue. We were anticipating a pre-planned speech and expected little real information or interaction. We were way off.
We talked for 75 minutes. And no power point presentations. Dan spoke without a trace the Corps’ recent hallmark vagueness and defensiveness. He was open. He was candid. He answered every question to our satisfaction. Here are a couple of verbatim quotes on which I have Dan’s explicit permission to repeat:
Levees.org: There is confusion about who is responsible for what regarding our flood protection in Greater New Orleans.
Dan Hitchings: It’s very simple. We are accountable to Congress and to the American people for the final product.
Levees.org: What did the Levee Board do wrong?
Dan Hitchings: There are many investigations on going at this time, and the findings are not complete. But, I am not aware that they did anything wrong that was significant
Our conversation covered a lot of topics, and had a few surprises, that have not been reported in the press [my opinions in brackets].
On MRGO: The COE models show that the MRGO did not really come into play. Lake Borne had an 18 foot tidal surge that pushed through St Bernard and the Lower 9 th. MRGO made hardly any difference. [Funneling effects from improper/inadaquate levee system design appears to have had a big effect in creating the huge surge. Both COE and LSU studies had predicted the funneling effect.]
On trees next to the 17 th St Canal: Dan Hitchings: “those trees didn’t grow overnight.” The trees were there when the canal wall was built, and “someone, somewhere within the Corps determined they were not a problem.” Then he added “the swimming pools were even a larger issue, and they didn’t spring up overnight either.”
On the gaps in and portions of the IHNC ( Industrial Canal) canal walls that were not yet complete. This work was the COE’s responsibility but was either not yet funded by Congress or not yet completed by the Corps. [Despite 40 years since initial authorization of the flood protection system.]
Dan spoke of wanting an oversight committee to review the work of the Corps. Such a group would be made up of people who are “outside the culture and environment of the Corps.” He didn’t specify who would be in the group, except to say there were plans to include experts from Holland. The goal of the group is to make sure that “we are doing the right things right.” That is, the right projects are chosen, and those “right” projects are done properly.
In my opinion, Wednesday’s meeting was historic. Dan Hitchings is a member of the Senior Executive Service, the civilian equivalent of a one star general within the Corps. Dan is “the one” and Dan acknowledged that the Corps is accountable for our flood protection and that the local levee board is likely blameless on anything of significance.
We thank Dan for his openness and sincerity, and hope that the COE will follow through on its goal of reform in its culture and its review processes. New Orleans cannot go through this again!
Now we need the federal government to acknowledge that same accountability and for Congress at nearly 6 months post August 29 th to finally set aside the appropriate funding to make us whole.
-Sandy Rosenthal
