Abandon Flooded Areas

AP reported More than half the people in this country say the flooded areas of New Orleans lying below sea level should be abandoned and rebuilt on higher ground.

I completely agree. Move, don't rebuild in place

An AP-Ipsos poll found that 54 percent of Americans want the vast sections of New Orleans that were flooded by Hurricane Katrina moved to a safer location. About 80 percent of the city was flooded at the height of the disaster. The city, home to about 484,000 people, sits six feet below sea level on average. The fate of the flood-prone areas of the city is an open question. The aid pricetag already runs tens of billions of dollars. In the days since the hurricane, House Speaker Dennis Hastert has questioned whether the worst-flooded areas should be rebuilt. The skepticism about restoring New Orleans below sea level comes as the public mood has darkened after one of the nation's worst natural disasters. Those most likely to say that low-lying areas of New Orleans should not be rebuilt are whites over 45 years of age and Republican women. There's a lot of history, but the fact remains that it remains below sea level," said Kate Rehfus, a Republican from Fort Thomas, Ky., who loves New Orleans for its blues, beignets and Cafe Du Monde coffee. "It wouldn't be the same by any means, but if it could be done, that would be best. This would never happen again." Members of New Orleans City Council are vowing to rebuild the city - a task that would cost billions of dollars. The city has a long history and a rich tradition of distinctive jazz, matchless cuisine and Mardi Gras. The Big Easy is a magnet for tourists, with more than 10 million visiting in 2004, spending almost $5 billion, according to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. More than four in 10 of the Americans polled said they want the city rebuilt where it is and the levees strengthened.

What if a hurricane hits New Orleans directly and it fills up with rain water? If you are going to rebuild where it is, change the name to "New Venice" ... or maybe "New Atlantis"

Greg Ransom blogged The American people likely have more smarts and human compassion that will the politicians, because the case for not rebuilding the city of New Orleans is overwhelming. But I’m guessing the corrupt politicians in Louisiana and Washington will see dollar signs and votes, which will lead to more deaths down the road. That’s just the way things work, and it’s a very hard thing to stop.