It’s been a quiet hurricane season thus far, but New Orleans residents are always anxious about the state of hurricane preparedness. Civil engineer and President of the Flood Authority, Roy Carubba, joined WWL’s Tommy Tucker to discuss the protection systems currently in place.
Many point to Louisiana's slow and steady rate of sinking as a concern when it comes to maintaining flood levels, and Carubba was quick to focus on that.
“We live in a region where the soil is continuing to consolidate or settle. But, based on our recent surveys of flood walls and levees, we are above (by elevation) the 100-year protection that was put in after Hurricane Katrina,” noted Carubba. “As of today, the protection is there. There’s nothing for anyone to worry about. And I can say that with the highest degree of confidence."
The soil table in Louisiana is unique, but according to Carubba, civil engineers kept that in mind when designing the flood protection systems in the region.
“In engineering and construction, we have these things called safety factors and redundancy. So, if we need a pound, we put a pound and a half. The reality is, in construction dollars, it doesn’t cost that much more to do a little extra,” Carubba explained.
While Carubba didn’t design any of the current flood systems in place, as President of the Flood Authority, he has gotten familiar with the various flood assets and the people working them. He adds that he feels extremely confident in the systems and people in place right now.
“Not only from an asset standpoint are we well-protected, but the people who have to go out and do this work, closing the gates and valves, are better prepared. They’re better trained, better paid, and they can continue to better themselves. That’s a very important part of this,” emphasized Carubba.
When it comes to the actual infrastructure in place, Carubba told Tommy Tucker it was hard to quantify just how much the leaps in technology and emphasis on preparedness have impacted the region.
“These structures that the Corps of Engineers have given us … when you stand there and look at these and know that we never had them before Katrina, it gives me a high level of comfort. To see these barricades, pumps, structures that close canals … it is amazing to see what they’re capable of doing. We are very well protected,” Carubba pointed out.
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