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Originally Posted by Billcat
If things are that fine in Florida and San Francisco, then how did the billions of dollars of damage done in those natural disasters come to pass?
Truth is, those buildings in Florida and San Francisco are built to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes of a given magnitude, just as the levees in New Orleans were built to a given level of protection.
If there is an objection to spending money to rebuild after one type of recurring natural disaster, then why not be consistent and avoid the expense of rebuilding after other types that also are likely to recur? If it is a waste of time and resource in one case, then it may well be in all these cases. I don't agree with that idea, because I think that it is worthwhile rebuilding Florida, San Francisco and, yes, New Orleans.
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Just remind me, what was the year of the San Fransisco earthquake? Wasn't it just a hundred years ago? They have advanced a little in the building codes since then.
Many of the houses destroyed in Florida are what are called Mobile homes, in England they would probably be called pre-fabricated homes. These homes are, in the main, owned by what we call snowbirds who only come down here for the winter months from their main homes in the north. When conventional houses are destroyed, they are rebuilt to the new codes which give them a far better chance of withstanding a hurricane.
As I said. What is the point of re-building houses below sea level? All they have to do is move a few miles north and there's plenty of land above sea level to build on. It doesn't matter what standard you build the new houses to, there is no protection against sea water coming in if they are below the level of the sea. The whole area is reclaimed swampland. Not the best foundation for levees or houses.
Most of America is subject to some kind of disaster. Hurricanes in the south, tornados in Oklahoma, Kansas etc. Earthquakes in California. Terrible winters in the far north, especially near the great lakes. It's a matter of picking the fights you think you stand a chance in. To my mind, New Orleans is a fight from which to flee. Just my opinion of course.