The images of residents gathered on rooftops to escape flood waters are indelible 10 years after Hurricane Katrina buffeted New Orleans. In the years since, the city has moved ahead with resilience strategies that may become a model for other communities.
The Louisiana Audubon and a coalition of other environmental groups recently released a report on what has been done and where more needs to be invested to prepare the area for the next big storm. More than $14 billion went towards rebuilding the levees and other flood protections and the result has been called "best flood control system of any coastal community."
The formation of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and the creation of a state coastal master plan have led to a long-term approach to achieving a sustainable coast. The plan, to be updated every five years, focuses on coastal protection and restoration projects.
Other resiliency efforts include raising individual houses out of the flood plain and educating the public about storm safety and response. For example, Terrebonne Parish won funding through Federal Emergency Management Agency grants and state programs to raise more than 1,000 homes.
Related Stories
| May 29, 2012
Reconstruction Awards Entry Information
Download a PDF of the Entry Information at the bottom of this page.
| May 25, 2012
Major retail chains welcome LEED Volume option
Large national chains such as Starbucks, Marriott, Verizon, and Kohl’s are welcoming the LEED Volume Program that enables them to batch certify similar projects.
| May 25, 2012
Alaska’s okay of gravel aggregate with naturally occurring asbestos opens up development
Some long-delayed projects in the Upper Kobuk region of Alaska may now move forward thanks to legislation that allows construction in areas that have naturally occurring asbestos.
| May 25, 2012
Las Vegas building codes may thwart innovative shipping container development
A developer wants to build a commercial development out of steel shipping containers in Las Vegas, but city codes would have to be altered or the project would have to obtain waivers for it to receive the city’s go-ahead.
| May 25, 2012
Collapse of Brooklyn building that killed worker blamed on improperly braced frame
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited SP&K Construction with 11 safety violations, for which it could face more than $77,000 in fines.
| May 25, 2012
Study: Safety inspections don’t hurt the bottom line
A new study suggests that random safety inspections by regulators help reduce injury claims without hurting profits.
| May 24, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Awards Entry Form
Download a PDF of the Entry Form at the bottom of this page.
| May 17, 2012
New standard for Structural Insulated Panels under development
ASTM International and NTA, Inc. are developing a new standard for Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) that would create a path for U.S. manufacturers to meet the requirements of the Canadian building code.