by TC Crumpton

Created on: July 09, 2008   Last Updated: November 24, 2011

After the floodwaters go down:

The raw truth is that the fate of Mississippi river cities lies in the bottom line. For both residents and officials, money is the evil that ails. Inhabitants devastated by the unexpected deluge stand amid their submerged homes and livelihood, defenseless and often destitute. Though there is merit in the argument that residents should prepare for the proverbial rainy day, many riverside dwellers, such as those in Gulfport, Illinois, are not required or advised to purchase flood insurance. They were also encouraged to build in a floodplain, assured that the levee would protect them from raging waters. It is common for locals and officials to resist pushing flood insurance out of fear that it will hurt economic development. Many simply cannot afford the financial burden of flood insurance. Moreover, they cannot afford to tuck money away in savings or move to higher ground.

Restoring River Cities

Immediate reparation tactics include an allotted $4 billion in federal aid to repair roads, rail lines, and inundated homes and businesses. Into the bargain, The Army Corps of Engineers will begin mending levees with proposed completion date of November 2008. Though necessary, this course of action is sufficient only for the short-term. Levees are vulnerable to erosion, faults in foundation, and seepage under the soil, which causes the pipes to fail. Exploring faults in design is a temporary solution as well. Climate and soil changes along with continued construction have a huge impact of levee effectiveness. When levees are over-topped, flooding is significantly worse, causing several times the damage. Restoration of communities along the Mississippi in the aftermath of this calamity will be an extensive and complex process.

Man is no match for Mother Nature. With nowhere to go but up, the incredibly shrinking Mississippi demands attention. Levees, wing dikes, and other navigational structures created to prevent flooding are in fact increasing flood stages. In 1975, Professor Charles Belt warned officials against further construction. Unfortunately, his comments were attacked and ultimately ignored. Cities often oppose curbing development even for the sake of flood risk. This short-sited favor of commerce is dangerous and costly. Until we all grow gills and learn to breathe underwater, building is futile. If cities refuse to curtail expansion, they risk being "decertified", thus increasing already high flood insurance premiums for residents,

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