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Can We Save New Orleans? |
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Can We Save New Orleans? |
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| Contact Info MIT Mission 2010 Team 5 (Site still under construction) e-mail: ashleyp@mit.edu Page Last Updated Oct 20, 2006 [Sorry, still having issues with the pictures.]  |
Mission 2010 is a class at MIT where a group of students come
together
to think up an actual solution for the current situation in New Orleans
because of Hurricane Katrina. I am a member of Group 5 - a
team that focuses on the city design. For example, we are taking
race, class, and the neighborhood structure into account. Also,
the history of New Orleans and why it is so important or not important
for us to preserve this culture. As a member of Team 5, we decided to split the work. My job was initially to focus on the levees but I also am researching topics on the past and present culture and history of New Orleans. Annotated Bibliography Ballou, W.H. (1880, November 6). Improvement of the Mississippi River. Science, Vol. 1, No. 19, 232-233. The price needed to preserve the levees per year is mentioned. The article mentions events that have occurred in the past and the belief that they will occur again. Inadequate funding from the government is also mentioned. Bergeron, A. (2006, June) System Failure Gets Blame In The Army Corps states that there is a flaw in the levees and that the construction has been passed down as different companies took over the project of repairing it. Another reason why levees continue to break is because of the difference in designs between two neighboring levees. This comprimises the power of each individual levee. Cemper, J.P. Floods in the Valley of the The early history of the levees and their original intent are mentioned in this book. The fault in the engineering that has been passed down to present day is also mentioned. Center for Environmental Communications. Retrieved Sept 21 from http://www.loyno.edu/lucec/mrdhabitat.html. This article talks about the nature surrounding the Mississippi River - the swamps, the marshes, and the natural levees. Favors Expansion For Flood Rivers. (1937, Feb 14). New York Times, p. 19. This article deals with a similar situation in the north regarding floods and levees but addresses the issue of levees and whether they are a good or bad idea. Flooded Area Growing. (1903 Mar 15). New York Times, p. 2. In this article, the reporter makes notice of how the floods are affecting the railroad system. As the train attempted to cross the flooded tracks, "the rails spread and the engine was partially derailed." Boats were sent out to rescue people as well as livestock in Tennessee. The river is reported to be 30.8 feet over the gauge. Gelinas, Nicolas. Retrived Oct 20 from http://www.city-journal.org/html/15_4_new_orleans.html. The title of this online article is "Who's Killing New Orleans?" The article not only addresses President Bush but also talks about the racial tension in New Orleans. The first fact to consider is that the New Orleans murder rate was eight times the national average in 2000 and has been increasing. The article likes to compare New Orleans to New York City. For example, the author believes that the poor in New Orleans are better off than the poor in NYC which may be why people did not think of the third world conditions that some of the people in the United States that some people are forced into. The author also addresses the drug war which is tearing New Orleans apart and contributing to the high murder rate. Heltzel, Paul and Roseanne Pereira. Retrieved Oct 20 from http://www.npr.org/news/specials/nola. From this website, we can learn about various areas in New Orleans. There are stories for most areas in New Orleans. For example, there are short biographies for the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans East, and Lakeview, just to name a few. The stories include a brief neighborhood description, damage after Katrina statistics, and the current state of reconstruction. Levees Withstand Flood. (1905 Jun 13). New York Times, p. 1. Various men are working to make sure the levees hold but members of various counties in Missouri have lost millions. Mississippi's Waters Burst Through Levees. (1903 Mar 17). New York Times, p. 1. A levee break occurred in 1903 where some men tried to help with the problem by piling on sand and dirt along the top of the levee at Trice's Landing. This article does not directly address Louisiana but it does other states along the Mississippi, such as Tennessee and Arkansas. Also, this article metions a way to prevent the river from spreading out. At that time, a draw led "into the St. Francis River through several bayous and lakes." The Disastrous Overflow of the Mississippi. (1858 21 Apr). New York Times, p. 8. This article talks directly about New Orleans and the Mississippi. Water levels are rising and a lot of the city is submerged. There were also difficulties with finding the breaks in the levees. Large amounts of property were lost. The Levee System. (1857, Apr 29). New York Times, p. 4. The levees have broken and this article addresses the issue of fixing them. Bordering states are mentioned as is Louisiana's request for government aid to repair their levees. People who would possible run the operation are mentioned as are the prices for the levee repairs. The Louisiana Levees-Gov. Flanders Annuls the Contracts Made by the Commissioners. (1867, Dec 1). New York Times, p. 1. Gov. Flanders declares null and void the contracts made and opposes government aid to build the levees. The Louisiana Levies. (1871, Oct 22). New York Times, p. 5. The Governor of New Orleans believes that the company currently assigned to complete and maintain the levees are insufficient and would like the Police Juries and Planters to work on the levees instead. Sever, Megan. When Levees Fail. Retrieved Sept 21 from http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/aug06/feature_Levees.html. This article talks about the condition of the levees, how New Orleans is sinking, and the problem with the current levees and what is being done to deal with them. Vognar, Chris. Retrieved Oct 20 from http://www.wwltv.com/sharedcontent/features/rap2/100106ccdrMUSICcrack.7b1ae6a.html. The article entitled, "Crack raps still abound, but other voices warn of drug's destructive impact." Although music often mentions drugs and substance abuse, two TV series show the problems associated with using drugs. It talks about political issues as well as how drugs can ruin a person's life. The article also shows how the image of crack has evolved with time because of entertainment such as comedies as well as music. Waltham, Tony. Shrinking Cities. Retrieved Sept 21 from http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2451.2002.00341.x?cookieSet=1 This article addresses a few of the U.S. Cities as well as areas around the world that are currently underwater and will continue to go underwater unless something is done. New Orleans has flooding but is most worried by tidal storm surges on Lake Ponchatrain. The levees and gates protect the city from the Mississippi but not as well from the Lake. |