Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Levees Category
Click here to view all posts

Recent ruling shows true tragedy of Katrina was federal government’s creation of the disaster itself

Posted by: Maven on December 14, 2009 at 11:34 am

From the Huffington Post, this commentary by Sandy Rosenthal:

“Few paid attention two years ago when U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval found the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Government squarely responsible for the flooding destruction in New Orleans during Katrina.

Even though the judge thundered over how the Corps squandered millions on building a levee system “… known to be inadequate by the Corps’ own calculations..,” few people paid much attention.



Because the judge had to dismiss the case.


Though judged responsible for the failure of its flood control structures, the Corps, nonetheless, was protected from any financial liability due to the Flood Control Act of 1928.

The American people, conditioned to believe that if there is no financial liability then the case has no merit, went on with their lives.


Even though over 600 died directly due to the floodwall collapses, and billions upon billions of dollars damage were documented, most Americans ignored the ruling and its significance.


But on November 18, 2009, Judge Duval ruled again, this time finding the Corps directly and financially responsible for the destruction of most of New Orleans and wrote, “…the Corps’ lassitude and failure to fulfill its duties resulted in a catastrophic loss of human life and property in unprecedented proportions….” … “

Read more of this commentary by clicking here.

December 14, 2009 · Filed Under Levees

Comments

One Response to “Recent ruling shows true tragedy of Katrina was federal government’s creation of the disaster itself”

  1. Sandy Rosenthal on December 14th, 2009 3:08 pm

    Thank you for posting this important information to this site.

    Sandy Rosenthal, wife, mother, New Orleans resident and founder of Levees.org

Leave a Reply