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Aug 31, 2015

Katrina: 10 years later

Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated large areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, causing over $108 billion in damage. Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana and Mississippi. The storm was ferocious. In New Orleans, flooding breached four levees, culminating in floodwaters of 15 to 20 feet covering 80 percent of the city. The current issue of Government Executive takes a look at Katrina through the words of 9 eyewitnesses. One of those is our colleague

May 20, 2015

The implications of “St. Bernard Parish Government v. United States”

New Orleans, Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, showing Interstate 10 at West End Boulevard. U.S. Coast Guard photo, 2005. On May 1, a federal judge in Washington ruled in a nearly decade-old lawsuit that the U.S. is liable for flooding that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. In a strongly-worded opinion, Judge Susan Braden of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled that the flooding in question was caused by the construction

Jan 17, 2014

Flood insurance protection: Challenges for small business, FEMA and NFIP

Photo courtesy of floodsmart.gov Recently, Business Insurance highlighted a white paper sponsored by ACE Insured concerning flood insurance (“Innovations in Flood Insurance Protections” by Jeremiah Konz). An excerpt: In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, many corporate risk managers whose organizations had experienced a flood loss from the hurricane were distressed by their inability to acquire adequate limits of insurance to absorb future flood losses that might occur during

Nov 7, 2013

Getting it right on wetlands & hurricane protection

While wetlands serve a number of important functions, they have been incorrectly attributed to storm surge and aquifer recharge functions. Henry Fountain, who covers science and engineering for The New York Times, is a sharp, experienced reporter and he recently showed that with an interesting article about keeping New York City and other low-lying areas safe during future storms. An excerpt: “[E]ven the strongest proponents of natural defenses acknowledge that they are no ma

Oct 22, 2013

The proper goal of federal flood policy

Proctor Lake, Texas, constructed by the Corps of Engineers for flood risk management, drinking water, and recreation In 2005, after the terrible devastation of Hurricane Katrina, while I was commanding the Army Corps of Engineers’ emergency operations, I was told that some of our people heard from New Orleans citizens, “You told us we were protected.” That report gave me pause to ask, Can the Federal government really “protect” citizens from floods, especially in areas as vu

May 3, 2013

“Sovereign Immunity” & the Fifth Circuit

New Orleans, LA September 21, 2005 – Repairs are underway at one of the three sites where the levee was breeched. Photo by Greg Henshall / FEMA On April 25, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit announced its decision in Lonatro, et al. v. United States, No. 12-30425, a case stemming from levee reconstruction performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Lonatro involves the interpretation and interplay of a federal s

Feb 17, 2013

Public private partnership opportunities: Flood risk reduction projects

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Q: Which natural disaster during the past 30 years has caused the greatest loss of life and property value? A: Flooding Since the 1980s, according to the National Weather Service, flooding has caused average annual property damage of nearly $8 billion and an average death toll of 94 people. In fact, flooding accounts for 90% of annual damages and loss of life associated with earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, and other natural disasters. Import

Jan 15, 2013

Dawson welcomes Elizabeth Fagot, Assistant Chief Counsel for Real Estate at the Corps of Engineers

Liz Fagot, Dawson & Associates’ newest Senior Advisor (Washington, D.C.) – A crucial aspect of almost all projects performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involves real estate acquisition, management, disposal and appraisal. These involve complex legal and policy issues that are crucial to keeping projects on schedule. That’s why Dawson & Associates is delighted to welcome Elizabeth Fagot, Esq. as a Senior Advisor. During her 30-year career as an attorney with the U.S

Dec 4, 2012

Water resources development: The long and winding road

Though the 112th Congress is coming to an end this month, interest and appreciation in Congress for the Nation’s water resources infrastructure programs of the Army Corps of Engineers is increasing. Long-time Corps watchers are optimistic that Congress will finally move legislation in the next Congress, hopefully in 2013. Water basin protecting Harris County, TX made possible by the 1996 WRDA (Photo courtesy of Harris County Flood Control District) Historically, Congress has

Nov 7, 2012

Hurricane Sandy – Another Stark Reminder

The flooding devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. (Photo courtesy of FEMA) Even a brief look at television news these days shows the immense devastation from Hurricane Sandy. Worse, this is yet another depressing reminder of the consequences of our inadequate attention to infrastructure planning and investments that can mitigate damage from a major storm. The numbers alone are stunning: Sandy was more than 1000 miles in diameter with sustained winds of 110 miles per hour