Hurricane Preparedness

One of my top priorities in Congress is to fight for comprehensive hurricane protection for South Louisiana. Category 5 hurricane protection is critical to the safety of our families, and the Corps of Engineers must make a full commitment to moving forward with the best plan to protect our families and communities from flooding and future storms.

At the direction of Congress, earlier this month the Corps released a draft report titled, “Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration (LACPR).” This report was intended to present Louisiana families, local officials, and Congress with a specific roadmap to achieve Category 5 flood protection. Unfortunately, the report does not include specific project recommendations, but rather an array of six alternatives presented as options. In order for Louisiana to move forward on comprehensive storm protection, it is imperative that the Corps work with local, state and federal officials, including the residents of South Louisiana, to present a detailed list of specific project recommendations to Congress so that we can upgrade our hurricane protection system to the Category 5 level.

• The Corps is now seeking comments from the public about this draft report, and I encourage you to take time to provide your input on how the Corps should move forward on this very critical issue that is of upmost importance to the safety and security of our families. The public comment period ends on July 24, 2009.

• To comment on this Category 5 hurricane protection report, click here. (link to http://www.lacpr.usace.army.mil/)

• You can read the summary of alternatives presented by the Corps of Engineers by clicking here. (link to http://lacpr.usace.army.mil/FinalReport/LACPR%20Summary%20Report%20June%202009.pdf)

• Comments and responses will be included in a separate report that will be posted to the LACPR website, www.lacpr.usace.army.mil, and provided to Congress as a supplement to the technical report.

• When this LACPR report has been finalized by the Corps, it will be submitted to Congress.

I have consistently expressed to the Corps the importance of providing Congress with specific project recommendations on Category 5 protection so that we can begin working to authorize and fund these projects.

For instance, the barrier weir alternative which is one of the options would provide superior protection for both the North and South shores of Lake Pontchartrain. This alternative consists of a surge levee barrier across the mouth of Lake Pontchartrain and storm gates would close the passes at Chef Menteur and the Rigolets. This alternative, combined with a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration plan, would provide superior protection against future storm surges.