Levee decision angers southern Louisiana residents

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14240706.htm

BURAS, Louisiana, April 15 (Reuters) - Seven months after Hurricane Katrina, Richard and Brenda Simmons still agonize over whether to rebuild their smashed two-story home in lower Plaquemines Parish on the southeastern tip of Louisiana.

Their decision got harder this week after the U.S. government said it may not spend the hundreds of millions of dollars it would take to raise all the levees on the thin strip of land jutting into the Gulf of Mexico.

Like many here, the announcement hit Brenda, 48, hard. She said she is angry that lower Plaquemines, a seafood and energy hub with an eroding coastline, may get left out while much of southern Louisiana wins beefed-up flood barriers.

"There are people who have lived their lives down here, for heaven's sakes. They want to come home, they have no place else to go. They put their heart and soul in this area," she said.

[mrcheerful]

1. Well remember that its pork spending to rebuild the levees and we all

know how shrub and the pukes are against pork spending, especially when it doesn't benefit anyone that doesn't have pukes in their pockets. Besides by rebuilding the levees it might protect the oil refiners in the area and then the oil companies won't be able to price gouge after the next hurricane.

[BlooInBloo]

2. At least gays can't get married!

Gotta change voting pattern in order to get functioning government.

Republican voters all around the country have had lots of chances - and failed every time.

They have another chance this fall.

[roguevalley]

3. this is so sad. I must say it sounds like they would have to have a

forty foot high steel levee to fend off stuff where they live. :(

[Jayhawk Lib]

4. It is indeed sad but

everyone would be better off rebuilding on higher ground where you do not have to depend on the levees. No matter how good or how much you spend on the levees the potential for failure is always there..