NU Hurricane Katrian Seminar 2008
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Transcript of NU Hurricane Katrian Seminar 2008
Rebuilding Greater New Orleans:Problems & Opportunities
Hurricane Katrina ReportSchool of Continuing Studies
Infrastructure Technology Institute
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
David R. Donohue
October,2008
Problems
1. Dysfunctional government
2. Below-sea-level topography
3. Hurricane/flood susceptibility
4. Destroyed neighborhoods
5. National coastal vulnerability
6. Infrastructure dependence
• History teaches importance of governance
Problem #1: Dysfunctional Government
• Local-state-federal relationship broken
Chicago 1871
Cities Destroyed & RebuiltCities Destroyed & Rebuilt
Galveston 1900
Cities Destroyed & Rebuilt
Warsaw 1945
Cities Destroyed & Rebuilt
Tangshan 1976
Cities Destroyed & Rebuilt
Cities Destroyed & Rebuilt
Bottom line for rebuilding:
Politics, culture, economics much more important than engineering, architecture, urban planning
Opportunity: Craft Functional Governance
• Reconstruction– Local-state-federal partnership– Federal leader ala Coolidge/Hoover?– Inclusive public involvement
• Long-term– Rethink local-state-fed disaster-response
relationship
Problem #2: Below Sea Level Topography
• The “bathtub”
• Subsiding alluvial soil
• Ever-higher levees
• Sub-standard government construction
Opportunity: Raise the Grade
Chicago 1950’s
Opportunity: Raise the Grade
Galveston 1900’s
Opportunity: Raise the Grade
• Problems– Compressive soils– Environmental impact– Financial/political feasibility
• Deserves a look
Problem #3: Hurricane/Flood Susceptibility
• NOLA does not drain naturally
• Requires protection– Levees– Pumps– Surge protection?– Rebuild coastal barrier islands
Opportunity: Protection Megaproject
Netherlands Delta Works
Comprehensive Hurricane/Flood Protection Works
Levees & Pumps
Coastal/WetlandProtection/Restoration
SurgeProtection?
Problem #4: Destroyed Neighborhoods
• Many neighborhoods relatively undamaged– French Quarter– Downtown– Uptown– Garden District
• Others completely destroyed– Wood buildings wrecked by immersion– Utilities compromised
Opportunity: Rebuild from Scratch, Better
• Not just physical, but economic– Design for opportunity
• Short-term• Long-term
• Rebuild 287-year-old city to 21st century standards– Modern materials/codes– New/rebuilt infrastructure– Fiber to each home? Wireless broadband?
Problem #5: National Coastal Hurricane Vulnerability
• 39 million people live in coastal counties from Corpus Christi to Cape Cod– Growing faster than nation: 5.4% vs. 4.3%
2000-2004
• Other estimates: 65 million “hurricane vulnerable”
• Erosion threatens 70% of nation’s coastline– FEMA estimates up to 25% of homes within
500 feet could be lost to erosion by 2060
Opportunity: Rethink Coastal Land Use, Protection, Disaster Response
• Should federal government subsidize unwise coastal land use decisions?
• What about development in areas prone to earthquakes, floods, tornados?
• Man-made vs. “natural” protection
• Katrina disaster-response lessons
Problem #6:Infrastructure Dependence
• Katrina dramatized societal dependence on infrastructure
Opportunity: Renewed Awareness of & Investment in Infrastructure
• US not investing enough in infrastructure
• Projects take too long, cost too much
• Hurting economic competitiveness & quality of life
2005 Report Card for America’s InfrastructureAviation D+Bridges CDams DDrinking Water D-Energy DNavigable Waterways D-Public Parks & Recreation C-Rail C-Roads DSchools DSecurity ISolid Waste C+Transit D+Wastewater D-US Infrastructure GPA D
Source: ASCE
Huge Problems, Tremendous Opportunities
1. Dysfunctional governments
Functional governance
2. Below sea level topography
Raise grades
3. Hurricane/flood susceptibility
Comprehensive protection
4. Destroyed neighborhoods
Rebuilt & reborn
5. National coastal vulnerability
Development policy
6. Infrastructure dependence
• Appreciation/investment
Our Success Rebuilding NOLA Will, to a Great Extent, Determine Our Civilization’s
Ability to Succeed in the 21st Century