The Flood Protection Coalition is a group of concerned New Orleans residents who are pressuring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as Louisiana State and Federal agencies responsible for flood protection to make decisions which provide "Maximum Flood Protection" for the city of New Orleans.
The Flood Protection Coalition's resources are currently focused on the locations of the new permanent pumping stations protecting the three outfall canals at the 17th Street; Orleans Ave. and London Ave. canals. Two out of three of these canal levees failed during Hurricane Katrina resulting in the largest natural disaster in U.S. history. Believe it or not, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are being influenced by special interest groups over the location of these permanent pumping station. These stations will provide a very important first line of defense against a hurricane's storm surge which all experts agree was the main factor causing the failure of the 17th Street and London Ave. levees during Katrina. As part of the funding for this project, the U.S. Congress has mandated that these pumps be located "At or Near" the mouth of each outflow canal. We do not feel this mandate is being followed by the Corps.
Why are we outraged? In the case of the Orleans Ave. canal, one proposed location currently being considered by the Corps is located 1/2 mile from the Lake and the mouth of the canal. This location would create over one mile of levee at risk of failure in the event of a hurricane. This placement is an unnecessary risk and one the Flood Protection Coalition is not willing to take.
Please click the link above to send a pre-addressed email form to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and State and Federal agencies in support of locating these permanent pumping stations at the mouth of the 17th Street; Orleans Ave. and London Ave. canals.
If you haven't already done so, please click the link to the right and take 30 seconds to sign our petition demanding "Maximum Flood Protection" from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
It is undeniable that placing these pumping stations "at or near" the Lake as Congress has stipulated will provide maximum flood protection. This is our opportunity to make things right and politics and special interest groups have no business attempting to influence this decision.
Sincerely,
--Flood Protection Coalition
