Katrina Ten Years Later: Can New Orleans Weather the Next Storm?

Ten years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, more needs to be done to protect the city of New Orleans from future storm damage, according to one environmental expert. Following Katrina, $14.5-billion was spent to rebuild the levee system that gave way during the storm, flooding parts of New Orleans. Douglas Meffert, Executive Director of Audubon Louisiana, called the rebuilding, 'a good start' but he added that it's not enough. 'We have what's called the 'one in a hundred year' level protection, which basically means you have a one percent chance of the levees failing every year, and that's simply not good enough.' It’s not just Louisiana’s coastal location that makes it vulnerable to rising water. The state has also experienced land loss from its shrinking wetlands, which provide a buffer between the sea and cities like New Orleans. Meffert is advocating for ambitious, but realistic coastal restoration surrounding New Orleans, which he said would provide a natural buffer and reduce the pressure on levees and flood walls. Louisiana currently has a $50-billion Coastal Master Plan project, but a long-term funding stream is needed, according to Meffert.