Could the government have done more to prevent the floods in the south east and help the victims?

Answer 1

It is amusing to hear the Brits talk about Americans not keeping track of foreign news - when they are themselves unaware that the US has had recent flooding in _our_ 'southeast.'

Answer 2

There are several factors that aren't common knowledge when you start talking about Katrina and what happened to New Orleans. First in the the early 80's, the feds sent 25 billion dollars to LA to shore up their levies, instead they built a 23 mile causeway (bridge) across Lake Pontchartrain. The LA State government misspent the money.

Secondly, most of that area is anywhere from 12 to 22 feet below sea level. We aren't talking flood plains, we are talking just plain silly. I don't think that you need to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

There are other abnormalities that are wierd. The Army Corps of Engineers, called for the levies to be built with a 17 foot piling. That's the metal stack of sorts that gets pounded into the base of a water retaining wall. After examining why some of the Levies failed, they found that in many places, while the Governement paid for 17 feet pilings, they were only 7 feet. Enter a category 5 hurricane and watch the results. It was bound to fail.

The levy that failed near the 9th ward was due to a big ship that became unmoored, (untied) to the side and rammed through the levy and then it knocked down the rest of it. I was there. I saw and learned so much.

There is some much corruption in LA it's hard to really know who walked away the the construction monies.

Answer 3

Are you referring to the levy protecting New Orleans, the estuary in Century (Florida), east Texas or the Thames? Regardless, the answer to all is "Yes." In the U.S., the responsibility falls to state and local government. Most of the liberals will tell you that it's the responsibility of the federal government -- forgetting the bit about states' rights. With rights come responsibilities. Sadly, a good number of conservatives here are not educated enough to know this either. As for the UK, while I have studied her history, I'm not excessively familiar with local law VS federal. Because the U.S. modeled England's form of government, I think it's safe to say, it's on the local government. It all becomes a matter of money. In New Orleans, the city and state govenments were given the money but had squandered it on unrelated projects over the years prior. It was clearly misappropriation, but to point that out now would fall upon deaf ears. It wouldn't be politically correct to admit that the federal government had actually done something correct.

Answer 4

Sure! Haven't you heard about the Super Secret Government program called SouthWest Flood Prevention Program. It's funded thru the CIA Black Budget. Anyway, the SWFPP operates from a spy satellite in geosync orbit and it can - through advanced technology given to us by aliens from beyond the solar system - manipulate rain making clouds. It can either make them rain or make them stop raining. Anyway, the aliens are watching Earth to see how well we use this technology before they decide to initiate full contact with us or destroy the planet completely. So far, it isn't going well

Answer 5

The government cannot PREVENT floods any more than they can cause them. As for the New Orleans residents, they should be more upset with their mayor and state governor than with the federal government. When did the Federal Government become responsible for every bit of bad luck anyone has?

Answer 6

We could have sent more money over there (if we had any)for flood relief, but the floods can't be prevented.

Answer 7

Yes they could - they should have sent Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and John Prescott to the areas and made them open the mouhs - that would have reduced the swell of water - 3 of the biggest caverns on the planet and a big empty sapce between all three sets of ears

Answer 8

1. The Government can't stop it raining.

2. the insurance companies will help the "victims"

Answer 9

As long as there are fools that build in "Known" flood zones, there will be fools that get flooded!
NO the government should not help them rebuild Unless they are willing to rebuild on higher ground Not in a known flood plain.

Answer 10

maybe they could have been there with a few buckets .................. don't be silly, it is now a test for the governement to get it cleaned and sorted as quick as possible. Maybe they need to build a few more man made rivers and stop building on the flood plains.