America's Flood Dams in Bad Repair
Take the Chevy to the Levee...Or Maybe Not?
These levees, many built decades ago, may present every bit as much danger as the infamous one that was supposed to protect New Orleans. The Army Corps of Engineers has lists of the failing levees and has notified communities in affected areas. Beyond that, there isn't much the Corps can do to help, since funding is not currently available to make the repairs.
Most of these levees are the responsibility of local governments and private owners. With no pre-assigned federal funding, states and communities will have to find ways to finance the repairs of these failing flood dams. The Corps has few suggestions as to how to obtain these funds. Meanwhile, those who live behind a levee's dubious protection find that their insurance premiums are rising to cover the cost of flood insurance, as long as the dams are in disrepair.
Other countries deal with similar flood control issues. They too build levees, but their designs may be more elaborate than ours. Maintaining flood dykes is top priority for Holland, where most of the country sits below sea level. England has its own high-tech system to protect its capital, Japan has erected superlevees, and Italy's engineers devised a sophisticated flood gate to keep the tides from the classic city of Venice.
Will humanity win the struggle against the sea? It is a question that needs to be asked in light of global warming and predicted rising tides. Perhaps nature will always be one step ahead of us. Perhaps the only answer we can give is an insecure shrug. And while we hide behind failing flood walls, we should remember how frail we are before the raging forces of our planet.
If you live near a levee, you can purchase additional flood insurance. And you can ignore reality, but only for a little while. Unless money is found soon to repair and re-enforce these dams, disaster is only a storm away. At any moment, waters may breech the weakening dams and you will find yourselves fleeing from an angry sea. If your lifestyle allows and you are not opposed to it, relocation may be in your best interest. Perhaps you should pack your belongings, put the place up for sale and drive that Chevy as far away from the levee as possible. Time is not on your side. If you wait too long, property values may drop and buyers may be difficult to find.
We must urge states and communities to hurry and raise the needed funds, to hasten the repair of the affected flood dams. It would certainly avert a lot of heart ache. After witnessing first-hand the displacement of so many during Hurricane Katrina, I worry about recurrences. I was part of a volunteer team when nature dealt that stunning blow. I will volunteer again, if needed. But what I saw in the eyes of those seeking shelter had its effect on me. We can't prevent all disaster. Repairing one hundred and twenty-two levees is a big order. But we must at least try to ensure the safety of those who depend on them.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_5141849
122 Levees in danger of failing
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/09/0902_050902_katrina_levees_2.html
New Orleans Levee built decades ago
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/06/science/06tech.html?ex=1283659200&en=f2cbac85235230ad&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Europe's high-tech flood control
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0112-15.htm
Their Levees - Our Levees
Published by Tyger Schonholzer
Tyger Schonholzer is a respiratory therapist and freelance writer. She has published short stories and poetry in various ezines. Her novel and poetry books are available at Lulu.com View profile
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- Many Levees were built decades ago
- There is no government funding for repair of weakened levees
- Other countries build more elaborate structures to protect their citizens from floods
1 Comments
Post a CommentThe sorry condition of many levees and dams is something that has been getting worse over the years, a trend greatly accelerated by the neo-cons in the bush admin, who value profits and cuts for cronies over real investments. They want to break the goverment's ability to care for the public commons, then they can be sold off to corporate interests for pennies on the dollar.