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