If people were to realize the imminent danger, they would have probably paid more attention to the wetlands. It seemed irresponsibly to invest in something such as marshes and lands that were seemingly of little use to the city and individuals thus preferred to invest in other matters, such as the Mississippi River's commercial purpose. However, seeing the damage, the tens of billions of dollars lost in the disaster, and the lives lost it is likely that the price to pay for restructuring the wetlands would have been significantly smaller.
In addition to the improper management of the Mississippi River and the lack of regard in reference to the wetlands, the magnitude of the disaster was influenced by the levee construction standing protecting the land from the river and the sea. While the levee system was actually meant to prevent floods from happening, it failed entirely in accomplishing its purpose. The levees were several decades previous to the flood by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. It is uncertain whether they yielded to the waters because they were not correctly built or whether they did so because they were not designed to resist weather phenomena of such intensities.
The devastation which the Hurricane left behind is not only making matters more difficult for people to rebuild their homes, but it also preventing authorities from building an efficient system to resist flooding. With no wetlands, no levees, and a flooded or wrecked territory, the authorities are less able to restructure the flood system. Climate change only adds to the situation and makes it more probable that flooding will continue in the territory, this being a direct effect of the pollution done while exploiting Louisiana's coastal commercial potential.
In order for New Orleans to be rebuilt as a successful city that will resist future floods people's convictions need to be addressed, as it is of no use to simply rebuild buildings. Individuals have to learn that it is essential for them to get actively involved in helping their city and that there is more to life than just enjoying things without...
It is more difficult to attempt to resist weather phenomena rather than to adapt to them. People need to understand that it is less likely that they could have stopped Hurricane Katrina from entering New Orleans. However, the damage would have been less significant if the buildings were adapted to go through floods. Other than taking care so as for their houses to be able to suffer little to no damage consequent to a flood, people have to concentrate on reducing the level of emissions, since this too is important when considering extreme weather phenomena.
The bottom line is that the city of New Orleans is prone to be yet again devastated as a result of a natural disaster. This can be avoided by employing techniques meant to prepare the city for such catastrophes. Restructuring wetlands, controlling the Mississippi River, rebuilding a more efficient levee system, and last but not least-changing people's principles in regard to their role in protecting their future and the future of their children, are all steps that are required to be taken with the purpose of preparing a major city to suffer as little damage as possible consequent to an extreme weather phenomena.
Works cited:
1. Eckel Catherine; Grossman, Philip J., and Angela Milano, "Is More Information Always Better? An Experimental Study of Charitable Giving and Hurricane Katrina," Southern Economic Journal (2007): 74.2
2. "Creating a sustainable and desirable New Orleans." Ohio State University. 01 August 2010.
"Creating a sustainable and desirable New Orleans." Ohio State University. 01 August 2010.
"Creating a sustainable and desirable New Orleans." Ohio State University. 01 August 2010.
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"Creating a sustainable and desirable New Orleans." Ohio State University. 01 August 2010.
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Eckel Catherine; Grossman, Philip J., and Angela Milano, "Is More Information Always Better? An Experimental Study of Charitable Giving and Hurricane Katrina," Southern Economic Journal (2007): 74.2
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