Corps of Engineers Repairing New Orleans Levee System

On June 1, 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- the agency that built them -- stood up and took total blame for the failure of the New Orleans levee system during Hurricane Katrina. The failed levees were considered largely responsible for the catastrophic flooding that left 80 percent of the city underwater. Since making its first-ever admission of design deficiency, the U.S. Corps has poured its heart, soul and billions of dollars into the repair and improvement of the New Orleans levee and flood control system.

To date, Congress has authorized nearly $6 billion for the the Corps to undertake the immediate repair and enhancement the levees, provide New Orleans with a state-of-the art hurricane protection system by 2010 and be well on the way to restoring the flood-containing wetlands surrounding the greater New Orleans area.

According to a Katrina Anniversary Fact Sheet from the White House, the entire New Orleans hurricane protection system has now been restored to an equal or better condition than before Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005. More than 220 miles of floodwalls and levees have been restored, flood water pumping stations are being flood proofed and all earthen floodwalls and levees are being "armored" at critical locations to prevent erosion. Floodgates have been constructed to protect against storm surges and $200 million has been earmarked to "jumpstart" restoration of the wetlands.

The Corps of Engineers was just one federal agency to learn hard lessons from the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. As the agency responsible for planning, designing and building much of our nation's flood control system, we can only hope the Corps learned its lessons well.

Also See:
US Corps Takes Blame for New Orleans Levee Failure
FEMA Announces Two New Disaster Recovery Strategies
Hurricane Katrina Victims One Year Later: Neglect, Heroism and Despair (US Liberals)