New Orleans hurricane recovery: 5 years after Katrina

Posted August 25, 2010
By Office of Public Affairs
Headquarters, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

08/25/2010 - WASHINGTON — "As we remember all that was lost, we must take stock of the work being done on recovery, while preparing for future disasters. … With every tragedy comes the chance of renewal. It is a quintessentially American notion, that adversity can give birth to hope and that the lessons of the past hold the key to a better future."— President Barack Obama

Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast five years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made significant progress on New Orleans' Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, or HSDRRS. In collaboration with the State of Louisiana, levee authorities, local governments, academia, industry and the public, the work continues at a rapid pace and the Corps remains committed to providing 100-year perimeter protection to the greater New Orleans area by June 1, 2011. Over 276 contracts have been awarded and over $9 billion obligated for the program. Current obligations include over $2 billion directly to small and disadvantaged businesses, representing close to 30 percent of all contract obligations.

Norfolk District support

Immediately following the terrible tragedy that devastated the Gulf Coast region, employees of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lined up at the district's emergency management office to volunteer to assist in the Corps' recovery efforts.

Since 2005, more than 70 district employees have voluntarily deployed to the Gulf Coast region in support of the Corps' recovery efforts and ongoing hurricane and storm damage risk reduction work.

Jan Van Houten, district emergency management specialist, was the first Norfolk employee to deploy to the emergency operations center at Mississippi Valley Division. Her primary job there was to coordinate civilian and military movement of personnel and resources to Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as coordinate FEMA missions for the region. Tracking boots on the ground, as well as Corps resources, was a major task, she said.

"Our employees really stepped up to help citizens affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Van Houten. "Many of our volunteers extended their initial 30-day deployment, some for up to one year, and many more redeployed multiple times. One employee was so drawn to the work and people in New Orleans, that she took a permanent position working on the levee restoration project."

"I marvel every day at the unbelievable spirit of volunteerism and service our people here demonstrate," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "Whatever the volunteer mission, our people step up and ask, 'What can I do?' 'How can I help?' The district is very fortunate to have employees that continually are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to assist victims of disaster events. I couldn't be more proud of them."

The HSDRRS is now more than one-third complete: 65 of 69 100-year contracts in the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity project have been awarded; 36 of 39 100-year contracts in the West Bank and Vicinity projects have been awarded; and 12 of 35 contracts have been awarded for Southeast Louisiana work.

HSDRRS major project status

• The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier at Lake Borgne, the Corps' largest design/build civil works project, is 74 percent complete. The 1.8-mile surge barrier wall is virtually complete while work continues on the three gated structures. This project will work in tandem with the Seabrook Floodgate Complex, which will begin construction soon.
• Construction started this year on the West Closure Complex, a $1-plus billion project to include a 225-foot floodgate, levees, floodwalls, and the world's largest drainage pump station. This huge project is already 38 percent complete, and work continues around the clock.
• Other major work includes: erecting surge protection barriers for the Harvey and Algiers Canals, adding scour protection, replacing deficient I-walls with stronger T-walls, repair of existing pump stations, storm-proofing pump stations, improving interior drainage, and restoring and completing components of the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity and West Bank and Vicinity projects.

Public involvement, public safety

• The Corps has welcomed public participation throughout the decision process, hosting more than 300 public meetings throughout the greater New Orleans area to listen to stakeholders and to obtain public comment on the HSDRRS.
• The Greater New Orleans area already has better than ever before perimeter defense against hurricane storm surge.

Facts and figures

• HSDRRS is fully funded at nearly $14.5 billion.
• HSDRRS is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' number one domestic priority.
• The Corps is building the HSDRRS with new and more stringent design criteria. Extensive modeling, lessons learned and risk-informed processes have enhanced the Corps' design criteria and on-the-ground construction.
• Additional information is available at: www.mvn.usace.army.mil/