New Orleans
When New Orleans is compared to other coastal or shoreside cities, it is ranked among the most vulnerable to storm surges. Two key issues cause the region’s vulnerability: first, New Orleans’ elevation is below the Atlantic Ocean’s sea level. The second reason for the region’s vulnerability is that it lacks the natural defense features to protect the land from storm surges. The Regions of New Orleans has been a low region from historical data; however, human interference has resulted in the area further sinking. During the initial construction of the city of New Orleans early 1700s, construction workers ran out of viable building land. Therefore, engineers of the time emptied swamplands around the city, allowing the city’s expansion. However, the effect of draining the swamplands was subsidence, the sinking of land below the sea level. The sinking consequence is still present to date, with the region of New Orleans being approximately six feet below the sea level.
Among the core features that allowed New Orleans to flourish are the levee systems that hold the water from the Mississippi River and around Lake Pontchartrain. The levees allowed for large areas of land to be dried out and developed for social and agricultural activities. The area had fertile soils that promoted the growth of sugar cane, rice, cotton, and soybeans, among others. However, by holding back the water from the two sources it had severe consequences for the “bowl effect.” The bowl effect is when water enters the city, it is difficult to remove. The coastal wetlands’ role in Louisiana is to provide the needed protection against the floods caused by the annual hurricanes such as Katrina. The wetlands found in New Orleans reduce the waves stirred by strong winds by several meters before they reach the city.
Question 7
New Orleans is susceptible to flooding causing various levels of damages even with moderately rated hurricanes. The levee systems have been improved numerous times; however, they have repeatedly failed to explore new alternatives to protecting the city and its environs. Among the actions implemented is the protection of wetlands, which, as earlier depicted, aids in the slowing down of waves stirred by the hurricane’s high-speed winds. Human activities have critically encroached into the wetlands reducing the area needed to slow down waves. Additionally, it has also affected the biodiversity of the region. The need for change was significant as of 2005. The state of Louisiana developed and appointed a bureau for the protection and restoration of the coastline. Through land planning, regulations, financial aid, and development of social regulations, New Orleans’ public administration has devoted itself and financial resources in limiting the effects of natural disasters such as hurricanes.
Though the city is active in developing solutions for the physical damages caused by flooding from weather phenomena, it is essential to consider the social aspect of the flooding. The majority of the population in New Orleans is from the African American ethnicity, and high wealth distribution inequality has resulted in the majority of the black community being affected by the floods. They mostly occupy areas close to the wetlands; with the proper state and local coordination, they can be relocated to safer areas. The overall outcome would be reduced damages and loss of life from flooding.