Two authors approach the recovery from divergent angles, gleaning fresh insights into the long road we’ve traveled.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Katrina’s deadly lessons led to improvements in evacuation process
Today when a hurricane turns toward the Louisiana coast, it kicks off a comprehensive $2.5-million-per day evacuation system designed to move up to 46,000 residents who lack transportation from New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. It will use as many a 700 chartered highway coaches as well as airliners. And yes, pets are included in the plan.
Posted inEnvironment
Best-ever levee system is here to protect property, not lives, experts warn
Of all the questions being asked about New Orleans’ progress 10 years after the disaster that killed nearly 1,500 residents and clouded its future, the most persistent has been this: Is it safer now? Interviews with storm experts resulted in answers filled with caveats. The best summation: It’s safer for houses, but not necessarily for the people who live in them.
Posted inSchools
New Orleans has 19 new public schools as $1.8 billion building plan continues
Post-Katrina rebuilding plan is affecting campuses across the city.
Posted inEnvironment
People’s hero, Corps’ villain or both? Investigator’s life upended by Katrina findings
Like many Hurricane Katrina survivors, former Louisiana State University research scientist and instructor Ivor van Heerden sometimes tears up at certain memories. He didn’t lose a house or a family member. He lost his career. That still hurts because it was taken from him by the people he was trying to help.
Posted inSchools
City says it’s hustling to fix school-zone lights before all campuses are open to students
Work includes replacing bulbs and batteries, and reprogramming lights to match school hours.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
10 years after Katrina, a look at Obama’s promises to rebuild and protect New Orleans
“America failed the people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast long before that failure showed up on our television sets,” Barack Obama said while campaigning for president. “America failed them again during Katrina.” He promised to do better. 10 years after the storm, we checked to see if he has delivered.
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics
Deepwater Horizon settlements helped Obama come through with wetlands restoration funding
Louisiana will get almost $8 billion for restoration projects from BP.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Obama administration fell short in rebuilding rental housing, speeding up Road Home awards
Rents are rising faster than incomes in New Orleans, and federally-funded rebuilding resulted in fewer units than planned.
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics
Despite Obama’s pledge, no progress on speeding up increased offshore drilling royalties
He said he’d direct it for hurricane protection, but he has since backtracked.