For years now the discussions have arose about the levee systems in America and how some are not safe and need to be replaced. This problem has been focused on the levee system in New Orleans. Many engineers and other people have asked the question whether or not the present levee system in New Orleans could withstand a huge wave or a direct hit from a powerful hurricane. These questions were answered when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans as a Category 3 hurricane which isn't even the most powerful. After the hurricane hit the levee system failed and there were many breaches in the system, which lead to the flooding of most of the city. My question is what could have been done to stop this disaster from happening and what now can be …show more content…

With this they also decided to raise the height of the levees once more (Colten 4). Why? Why does New Orleans keep being stubborn and use the same idea to rebuild and protect the city. No one will know but you would think that they change it. It has been proven that it could protect the city in cases of small flooding but when that "big-one" hits the levees are pointless and are just keeping water in instead of keeping it out.
In September of 2006, New Orleans passed the "3-foot rule". This law states that if you plan to rebuild and be eligible for the up to one hundred-fifty thousands dollars in grants, you must build you home 3 feet higher then it actually was. This law is looked upon as a "luck" law, people believe that you might get lucky and it will never flood in your lifetime but you could be unlucky and it might flood next hurricane season right after you rebuild the petty 3 feet higher. Doug Bellomo from F.E.M.A. stated that if this law was to protect homeowners, it failed, if a flood similar to Katrina houses would have to be 25 feet off the ground to not be able to flood. U.S.A. Today says that as of September of 2006, the estimated cost of upgrading the levee system is around 6 billion dollars. Three hundred-fifty miles of the system is what is being upgraded and still some parts are suspect and might not be up to concerns of the people.

Recovery after Katrina is a mammoth undertaking