Officials say pumps were not to blame for Gustav flooding, they were overwhelmed.
Think about that statement for a moment.
To be overwhelmed is to have insufficient defense.
We need further drainage study….
Along those lines came an interesting email from Bird who said this:
I think they read all local blogs and look for story ideas. I have an idea the reason Good Earth and Fairview flooded is because Bocage property was raised to be out of the flood zone and that used to be where the other two subdivisions had natural drainage of run off water. There is a new Louisiana Housing Finance Agency supported subdivision on Willow Glen near Aguillard Street. Their rules mandate property must be out of the flood zone. I am looking through the letters of modification to see if property was altered there to raise property up, thereby sending runoff back onto adjacent property owners.
Our planner and representative to the Star Commission and RAPC should not only be concerned about whether new developments can provide proper drainage for themselves, but how they impact neighbors and developments adjacent to them, especially if those developments are already in the City. I personlly don’t believe anyone looks at the impact of new developments on the drainage systems and how we continue to take natural drainage greenspace and concrete it over and put buildings on it, therefore preventing the natural outflow and retention of water our of the City.
The Mayor wants to talk about Chaitlan and how we can only do so much. Well it’s time a multi-governmental agreement was signed by all bodies who are supported by this drainage Canal and everyone chip in funds, no matter how much and get it cleaned out. Yes, that may mean Alexandria picks up a larger portion of the tab, but we’re the ones more greatly impacted in terms of property damage when it backs up into the City.
The Mayor also needs to puts more pressure on the Federal Government to fund Morganza to the Gulf and find out who is leading the coalition now and JOIN. This takes care of draining a lot of central Louisiana and a lot of lower Louisiana as well as providing hurricane protection for South Louisiana.
These are things NO ONE here is talking about any longer.
Bird.
I think Bird makes a very valid statement. Drainage study……..I said it right after the storm..
Lets not let the poor little pumps be overwhelmed again..
I encourage comments.. alexcenla@gmail.com
But I do reserve the right to publish them..
Alex
