SwiftVets.com

[FreeFall]

I found this at
http://www.globalsecurity.org/security/ops/hurricane-risk-new-orleans.htm

Orleans Levee District, a quasi-governmental body, is resposponsible for 129 miles of earthen levees, floodwalls, 190 floodgates, 2 flood control structures, and 100 valves. The governor appoints six of the board's eight members, and they serve at his pleasure. When a storm approaches it is responsible for closing the hundreds of hurricane protection floodgates and valves on levees surrounding the city. All residents outside of these levees evacuate.

So what is all this Democratic caterwaulling about Bush and the Feds about?

CBS said on 60 Minutes last night it was a floodwall that collapsed, not a levee. They had an Army Corp engineer who said he needed 20 years to strengthen them up, so why wasn't that done after Camille and Betsy? Such a shame.

[LewWaters]

It's the lefts latest attempt at slamming Bush. They forget that the President can only recommend a budget and spending. It's Congress that finally writes a budget and passes it.

From what I've read, it was local officials in New Orlans that decided the levees were good enough at category 3 strength. Later, someone said they should be increased to category 5, but that study, passed in 1998, wasn't even slated to begin until next year, 2006. Why an 8 year delay in studying it, no one seems to know.

Foxnews also interviewd an actor named Steve Harvey who was working at one of the shelters. He said he was told by an evacuee who lived alongside the levee that collapsed, that an empty grain barge broke loose from it's mooring and hit the levee, causing it to fail. The evacuee, unidentified, said he lost his family in the surge of water coming over the levee. Since that initial report, no one has repeated it or said anything about it, so who knows?

If true, no amount of preparation would have saved the levee, but then the left would only claim Bush cut funding for adequate ropes and pilings that the barge was tied to

[BuffaloJack]

Now Hillary want a 9/11 style Commission
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/story/343489p-293306c.html

[FreeFall]

Why doesn't she hold a commission as to why those people weren't evacuated AND why those levees were only a catagory 3 all these years. Camille was almost 40 years ago!

To me this whole thing going on now is that the Dem's are playing CYA regarding the levee system and the failure of New Orleans to evacuate their people. Dems are running Louisiana and New Orleans, but God forbid someone point the finger at them and their leadership.

[Arty Guy]

Many years ago I was employed in the Army Corps of Engineers civil works program. I do not know the details behind the collapse of the flood wall, but any improvements have to be both authorized and funded by congress. Bush may have cut back on his budget recommendation, but there is plenty of blame for that at the federal level. What most people do not realize is that some level of cost sharing is required from the local or state governments as well. I have no idea where the state and city were on this project and its funding.

The local levee district is normally responsible for maintenance once the levee or flood wall is in place.

Another interesting fact: The older parts of New Orleans were built on the little high ground available at that time, before levees and sea walls. The newer parts of the city were built below sea level in swamps that had been drained for that purpose. In hindisght a disaster waiting to happen.

[becca1223]

Photographic evidence of a barge inside a busted levee
http://pandorasbox.joeuser.com/articlecomments.asp?AID=85915&s=1