Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 2005/09

From: ormo2ndtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: [kl] OT, so very briefly.....
Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 12:53:37 -0400

One item that I have not seen during news coverage is a topological map
of the entire New Orleans flood area. For example, the French Quarter
remained basically dry. Was this because of its elevation or because
of a levee that held? Some areas near New Orleans were reported to be
25-ft below sea level. Others only 5 or 6 feet below.

How much of the area is in the 15-25 foot category?

This is relevant when you consider reconstruction. With entire housing
tracts wiped out, is it practical (from a property rights viewpoint),
albeit a major expense, to fill in the entire tract before individual
landowners begin reconstructing their homes?

I posted earlier about a 'dish' in my town which was repeatedly flooded,
and eventually the city enacted a building code that requires all new or
re-construction to be filled (with properly compacted soil) to sea level
before construction begins.

There were (still are) serious conflicts between neighbors about runoff
from another person's newly-elevated property, view corridors to the
ocean, and so forth. Thus it's not a simple question; but I do wonder
how much of the New Orleans area is the full 25 feet below sea level?

.......and one other thing: How many symphony orchestras would
approach a principal violist and tell them: "Hey, we need a new
principal clarinet, you're certainly a fine musician --- else you
wouldn't be principal violist --- so we want you to play clarinet
instead."

I'm referring, of course, to the news reports that some of FEMA's
highest level management had no disaster experience or training.
Perhaps those people were proven managers (or had friends), analogous to
the violist being a proven musician, but....

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