How New Orleans sank below sea level (and what they're doing about it)

[@brianparent4882]

There’s a gentleman in AZ who “plants” rain. He has gotten the city to work with him and he and his team build swales on the side of the streets and where the swales are they cut the curb which allows the water to fill the swales and by default the water to seep into the ground rather than running off. They plant native plants in the swales and eventually the swales start shading the streets. All small actions matter.

[@charlesrowley1657]

Half of new orleans is above sea level....,so dumb

[@JohnPierrotti]

Wow learned a whole lot here!

[@MrBoliao98]

I am impressed with that 7th ward lady, this is what you do to your community and uplift the lower 7th ward, very very good. I wish you all the best. Forget race, you live in a Delta, you will flood, but you can mitigate your neighborhood so you don't have your living room flooded. With the number of vacant lots, have you considered building large pond-like ditches and pile the earth somewhere else to create higher ground?

[@drivingphoenix3019]

I've been to New Orleans a couple of times. It's a beautiful city with a lot of history and the New Orlean's cuisine is fantastic, but too bad it's sinking. Maybe the city leaders should ask the Dutch how they hold back the North Sea. I'm sure the same engineering the Dutch use could be adapted to the New Orleans area.

[@Voo504Doo]

our leaders here in the city are amongst the most corrupt in the country and always have been.. sht still to this day new orleans has royal family influence from royal houses that still exist like the house of bourbon two sicilies for example, lead by prince carlo. not to mention we are mainly a catholic state hence we have parishes and not counties,the corrupt catholic church and jesuits sank its teeth heavily in new orleans, freemasons etc. ever since huey p long it hasnt stopped, from ray nagin to the current witch. New orleans will always be corrupt and if you speak to a real new orleanian who WAS THERE AND SURVIVED THE FLOODS.. it was blown up with dynamite, the levees. it was NOT hit by a barge like they said to cause all that damage. it was intentional to rebuild the projects into nicer housing than we have in suburbs and gentrify the city a bit, etc. they removed active gangs like the gotti boyz who were runnin wild in new orleans and another couple clicks related to original hot boyz og giggitys homie had a click the doonie boys i think. ALL THAT was fixed and the city improved on crime etc, projects were removed etc. wasnt on accident.

[@VickyRenee]

NO! For all the people who say let it sink! New Orleans is a city with history, with memories of great people, pizzazz, music, artists and GOOD times!! NEVER let it GO!!

[@StacyM723]

New Orleans is full of witchcraft, idolatry, pornography...God's wrath is coming upon the world in judgement for these things.

[@wordplaywalkways5187]

@@StacyM723 Wow. Sounds like he didn’t do a good job. How many storms went thru this city and it’s still kicking??? Your god sounds pretty weak to me. He loves us all right? But he kills us? Sounds kinda abusive, whaddoya think?

[@meganhopkins9788]

@@StacyM723 People everywhere practice witchcraft. Including you Christians who eat flesh and drink blood. People in Nola are connected to their African ancestry that was taken away in enslavement. You’re foul and should be ashamed of yourself for wishing death on a whole group of people. God doesn’t like that you’re judging

[@iheartshaneandjeffree]

@@StacyM723 stfu. That’s my hometown. Get tf out of here

[@cjthompson420]

Not to mention the port of south Louisiana brings us billions in economic activity. Those who say that are uneducated on the economy. We need New Orleans

[@craigroaring]

This is a rich vs poor, not black vs white issue. Pretty sure the rich black people were less effected than the poor whites. Unfortunately the poor are the only demographic that society deems appropriate to discriminate against.

[@elizabethclaiborne6461]

Truth. Those poor black areas were poor Irish and Italian neighborhoods until two generations ago. Nobody cared about them either when Betsey hit.

[@cshirmer8416]

Not a good speaker !🥴🤔👎

[@mc2mc277]

Interesting video. But I object to the use of “racist,” for one of the historically LEAST racist cities in the U.S. Also, people tend to buy land where they can afford it. No one forces them to buy the cheaper low-lying land and get flooded. Granted, it goes back to social economics. But that’s like saying the white Cajuns living out in the swaps who get flooded, is also “racist.” Not so.

[@jakurdadov6375]

In my experience, white New Orleanians are pretty racist. There are exceptions, but I have heard the N-word used pretty casually many, many times. My parents, natives and lifelong residents, called it "a damned N-word town," for example. Economics are one thing, but you can't argue that deed restrictions existed, before they became illegal, and prevented certain racial groups from living in certain areas.

[@haze8588]

Good video until u turned a universal problem into a rAce one.

[@Caramel9487]

Why do you guys pretend race problems don’t exist?

[@haze8588]

@@Caramel9487 why do you guys pretend race is the basis of ALL problems.

[@jermainec2462]

@@haze8588 because it is what you think this country was built off of? The question is why you in denial about the truth... They blatantly told you where all the poor black folks lived it and why it was hard for them to recover after the storm but you in such denial about what this country actually did I'mma need you all to wake up

[@haze8588]

@@jermainec2462 "wake up" ok stop using slogans to make yourself feel like you know what you're talking about just bc you're woke. Go cry and read your 1916 project propoganda

[@jermainec2462]

@@haze8588 if you don't want to hear the truth then just say that... don't get mad at me don't get no attitude none of that... you the one need to go read... You know damn well why that city is the way it is and it ain't just because it is location don't nobody want to hear that shit... Flood is a the universal problem yes we know that... But you know that shit run deeper than just flooding... And I know it's the truth just by the way you responded back to the statement...

[@bunythebeastgamer6920]

How New Orleans sank below sea level. Emphasizing the so called “systemic racism.” Please stick to the title.

[@dongking4570]

This was good except the part where you started comparing skin colors and talking about that kind of stuff instead of being a real good person who makes videos

[@robertmanella528]

Washington DC is below the water level also!! If you build below the water level, what did they expect!! Just goes to show you you can not fix stupid!!

[@cjthompson420]

New Orleans is sinking bEcAuSe oF RaYsiSmS! 😂

[@rahmreekoo86]

This is seriously the best documentary on this subject dealing with New Orleans. Bravo. -New Orleans native

[@tawnymorris2949]

I agree! I'm here now and am taking screen shots of the visuals because they are quite helpful! This is a great video with solutions!

[@jakurdadov6375]

Me, too. Born in Hotel Dieu. So many people believe the lies. But, I can feel good about this.

[@jordancourtney6537]

Halfway through you’ll find out it’s racism. Everything is racist.

[@lmd499]

What points that they made were incorrect?

[@beldinalanti1850]

@@lmd499 Like the largest lynching ever in America on March 14, 1891 in New Orleans where 11 Italian American were lynched without a trial? Yeah, the Italians weren't very well liked and used as cheap labor on those docks in New Orleans.

[@jermainec2462]

That's what the country built off of...

[@jordancourtney6537]

@@jermainec2462 If you believe that you are wrong. I don’t think you’re stupid. I just think you never were properly taught. America was/ is the country with the most freedom. It’s not prefect but nothing is. Racist people get no where in todays society. Unless your Ye I guess.

[@jermainec2462]

@@jordancourtney6537 no I'm not wrong and I've been talked the truth and this that's what this country was built off of cuz if it wasn't then it wouldn't be no slavery no Jim Crow none of that foolishness no redlining of cities black wall street all that shit that y'all like to ignore and cover up For some reason you sound like you want me to believe all of this is in the past when it's not I see it with my own eyes Hey y'all need to stop thinking America is the best thing going since sliced bread because it's not they don't even want to give you free healthcare but we supposed to be the richest country on this planet but they don't want to give you free education pass or high school diploma y'all need to cut the shit cuz we are not on top of the world anymore... We haven't fixed the issues in this country that we need to fix I'm incorrect I'm not maybe you just in denial

[@PatricenotPatrick]

You said yourself all the actual reasons the land is subsiding and yet threw in the color narrative anyway smh.

[@CALLAHAN19]

Once they started talking about race, I'm out... never fails... poor this poor that...done with it BS

[@megamanhikari8095]

white

[@jakurdadov6375]

Ah, yes. Blame the victim. The most popular American pasttime. Thanks for your contribution.

[@CALLAHAN19]

@@jakurdadov6375 Blame the victim?? I was a victim with this freaking storm an I owned my shit.. no rental... You don't know what you talking about, you may think you do but you dont... The news made it look as if blacks was the only ones, yeah well guess what our lives were more in ruins then their lives because we own our own shit.. An the blacks actually blame white people an yet more of us white people were more affected than they could ever dream of...

[@CALLAHAN19]

@@jakurdadov6375 There was more white people on their roofs but nobody would know because freaking CNN only showed blacks being saved an who saved them?? That's right, white people.... I wish I could blame someone else for my problems in life, but I'm not stupid, because I know any problems that I may have is my fault an nobody else, but not them, they love blaming us for what?? A freaking storm??

[@AliciaTheTroonSlayer]

@@jakurdadov6375The city is sinking due to pumping of groundwater, man made levees/flood walls which deprive it of the rivers natural silt deposits, and oil production. NOT racism, you can find that in the comment above yours. I think you meant claiming to be a victim is an American past time 😒

[@cmeshootfilms]

Didn’t know grist was racist. Thanks for letting me know your views so I never watch again

[@ArmyRob13]

I came here to learn why New Orleans is below sea level and the first 3-1/2 minutes were awesome then came the politics of racism. Can we just get some information without politics, just one time?

[@zay57]

Racism isn't a political issue for most people only whites because your ignorance

[@factsoverfiction7826]

Racism is a fact. It built New Orleans. People here deal with that daily. Your emotions are your own to deal with.

[@osa3821]

Cry harder

[@TRU_PRES3NCE30]

Na mf you need to hear the truth ma people live everyday this ain't for your entertainment

[@annbush1826]

The failures which culminated in the devastation of Katrina and Rita were : 1) the U. S. Army Corp of Engineers had repeatedly requested from the New Orleans Levee Board funding and approval for LOCKS to close off the three canals into Lake Pontchartrain which borders the city. These OUTFALL drains are described ---with the massive pumping stations which served to carry out the process. When the counter clockwise powers of the hurricane drove the salt waters of the Gulf of Mexico through the Rigolets into the shallow lake, it created a wave more than 20+ feet high. This flood then raced into the open mouths of the 3 canals. 2) Before Katrina actually made landfall at Burras east of the city, Amtrak had offered to send a relief train across the trestle track from the west, before rising flood waters made this impossible. Most New Orleanians do not need a car, as the streetcars and buses make the entire city accessible. Mayor Roy Nagin rejected the Amtrak offer, saying he was keeping his "chocolate city". He then flew to Dallas with his family.. 3) In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, every state in the Union as well as countries around the world sent millions of dollars to the stricken city..These millions were directed by Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco into her New Orleans Hurricane Relief Foundation. As thousands of people made their way into the Superdome. the Governor, her husband and their lawyer (Robert Perret, a fellow SELA graduate)set this up. At the same time, the Governor refused President George Bush's offer to send the National Guard. When he did override this and sent in the National Guard 3 days later, they reported it was "worse than Beirut." He sent an aircraft carrier and authorized $91 billion in aid. By the time he was reluctantly met by the Governor, the entire city was a shambles, with looters destroying the entire CBD, and even attempting to break into Charity Hospital for the drugs 4) More than 250,000 volunteers from charitable and church groups mobilized to help the stricken city, including those from President George H. W. Bush's "40 Points of Light." The Methodist church set up kitchens, and my daughter was one of the first responders who served the millionth meal on Thanksgiving Day. 5) to the west of the city lies Acadiana, with its "Cajun" population The hero of the survival of the area's people was through General Russell Honore and his "Cajun Navy." What happened to the Levee Board members? Nothing happened to the men who were the direct cause of the deaths of more than 1,500 people and the destruction of New Orleans. Today the Southeast Flood Control Authority is in control. The members are appointed by the Governor and a council. At least one member is to be a certified civil engineer. What happened to Governor Blanco? She is no longer alive, but her New Orleans Hurricane Relief Fund, a 501c organization, is still listed in Newport Beach, California with Mr Robert Perret. .

[@unlearnbusiness]

Thank you for this insight. I knew there was a lot more to this issue than just the blanket statement that modern media use for every issue: "racisms." In fact, nowadays, whenever I hear media call out racism, I know there's most likely a far more rational explanation.

[@jakurdadov6375]

You forgot the part about the Corps using the wrong elevation datum, the wrong design storm, the wrong factor of safety, the wrong soil analysis, the wrong levee design, the wrong floodwall design, the wrong sheetpile length, ... If the levees had not failed, none of the rest of that would have been problems. General Honore was an active duty Army officer in command of Joint Task Force Katrina after Katrina. The all-civilian "Cajun Navy" was not under his command. He identifies as "Creole," not "Cajun."

[@WhatashameMaryJane]

I've heard quite a few things about New Orleans, but this is new and it's probably the most interesting one. Amazing video Grist, thanks for spreading the knowledge.

[@Grist]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Simon44511]

New Orleans simply needs the Dutch. And they did ask the Dutch for help in 2017. We know how to deal with this problem here. I know they can help you guys there. stay strong.

[@johnprendergast1338]

The Dutch arrived and the city demanded that the Dutch pay N.O. to do the work ...That's how it works in the City Care Forgot ....

[@nicholasfu5937]

Amsterdam doesn't get hit by hurricanes.

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

@@johnprendergast1338 Pay what?

[@jakurdadov6375]

A hundred years ago, Dutch engineers came to New Orleans to buy Wood pumps (not made of wood, made by Wood). We seem to have forgotten our way in that century.

[@MrBoliao98]

No, that 7th ward lady is good.

[@spicyspruce5985]

It's a bit upsetting that a video of this quality doesn't get more exposure. Have you guys looked into something like Nebula? I feel like your channel would really fly there! It's steadier source of income compared to standard ads. I hope this helps!

[@cesarqueti]

you can't beat mother nature, you gotta work with her

[@aldraysmith4357]

Hello

[@aldraysmith4357]

Hello

[@renaherbert3142]

I'm from New Orleans and actually survived Hurricane Katrina. I still visit once a year to see family and to me, I still don't see the improvements. It is still the same as it was before Katrina if not worse. It is still looks depressing because it is not as lively as it used to be. The streets have seen better days. I love my city but I will not be living there again.

[@elainemoreland3908]

Can't feel.

[@EdwardM-t8p]

This was great until you made it all about race Instead of class!

[@James-lu4hb]

I love my city and I will never leave New Orleans behind.

[@alainga10]

Ignorant thinking. Why live below sea level when sea level is rising due to climate change?

[@James-lu4hb]

@@alainga10 Home is where the heart is

[@beldinalanti1850]

My heart lives in my chest, so you're saying you live in your chest?

[@James-lu4hb]

@@beldinalanti1850 I bet you're fun to be around at parties 🙄

[@idontknow7738]

Only the strong survive. 😉

[@melodyhart2017]

It is not sea levels rising,the wetlands are sliding into the gulf . ten years ago geologist studied the area,all the silt that comes from floods flows past the levies onto the continental self ! The shelf is bending as the silt builds up,all the topsoil is sliding in to the gulf,eventually NO will slide into the gulf !

[@MudRogue]

These are Liberal Cities. So who do you want to blame. Blame Democrats.

[@stephaniewilson6990]

@Tanner Van Dera Climate always changes. Nobody denies that. The difference we have is what to do about it, so pls, spare us the insults. Tnx.

[@stephaniewilson6990]

Yet they had the nerve to blame Bush for their own incompetent fmr Gov & fmr mayor. 🤬

[@MudRogue]

You seem young from your profile pic. I remember in 1970 being told that by 1980 the coast would be underwater. I remember in the 80's they said the coast would be under water by 2000. Then I remember in 2000 being told we only had 12 years.. I remember in 2012 being told the coast would be underwater in 2020. I also remember Obama buying a multi million dollar house in Martha's Vineyard. Obama is not worried about Climate Change. Oh... but Climate Change is real. So when is it now that the coast will be underwater. I am old enough to have heard all the lies for 50 years. One day you will remember this and recall all the deadlines you were told. New Orleans was build in a bad location and it has nothing to do with weather/climate change. Weather is what we old people call it.

[@lemikehendrix357]

It's a swamp

[@dinosaurus598]

Blame the person who wanted those Levees built in this Swamp.

[@johnmiranda2307]

Sank not sunk. Learn English, please.

[@Grist]

Thanks! Late night and I got a little crazy and switched my past tense for my past participle.

[@mannycat8906]

@@Grist I love how you handled John's comment like a champ.

[@exceptionaltalentspc4954]

I would take heat and even snow over flooding anytime. Nothing wrong about running away from danger.

[@gesmith7402]

Rite I love the Midwest we don’t flood at all! Yea we get bad snowstorms but our houses don’t collapse or fall off foundation. We don’t got to leave our city because of snow or gotta worry about not having a job or finding a new home. We good on this side I’ll take cold over that any day

[@jakurdadov6375]

@@gesmith7402 Which part of the Midwest? I see flooding in Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois every few years when the rivers rise.

[@mcfarlanect]

This was interesting until you dropped the "systemic racism" line.

[@preparetomeetsatan]

Oh no how dare someone mention this country’s dirty laundry 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@ruckusbeblack]

@@preparetomeetsatanoh lawd Pookeisha wash yo clothes 💅🏿

[@surelyshayla]

Literally is systematic racism

[@ruckusbeblack]

@@surelyshayla LiTeraLlY another Pookeisha has appeared 🧑🏿‍🦲

[@krookedshade9939]

Oh well, Cry to your colonizer ancestors

[@Onceaponabracelet]

The water table dropped due to the building of developments outside of the developed area. I lived uptown on Barrone and the water would come up if you dug a foot in 1977. When I left in 2004 that had stopped. It was not the pumping of water the soil compacted.

[@jakurdadov6375]

Where do you think the water went between 1977 and 2004? It had to go up and out. Pumps did that. If compaction is the answer, as you say, back in 1977, the voids in the soil were filled with water. When the compaction occurred those voids were reduced - right? that's the definition of compaction - and the soil volume was also reduced. So, the ground surface was lower. We call that "sinking." (BTW, "Baronne" is spelled with one "R" and two "Ns.")

[@Onceaponabracelet]

@@jakurdadov6375 Hey my dad typed this and he's dead now so I hope you have a good day!

[@MO-ur2sz]

this term “black” what do you mean by that im negro american an dont like that term being used to describe my people! No part of my skin is black is what i was taught..

[@balumeikle8667]

show your face if you’re black because i’m not a believer 😭😭

[@New.orleans]

They spent all that money on them pumps and it still floods bad

[@jakurdadov6375]

Typically, a flood control system has a Design Storm. That defines the rainfall event the system is designed to handle. Rainfall of a greater amount will cause flooding. Why not make the Design Storm higher? You might ask. Money, because more costs more. You probably experience traffic congestion at certain times of the day. If we could make every road 15 or 20 lanes wide, you might never experience traffic congestion. But, you would have to pay for those lanes every day and every hour, even at 3 a.m. on Easter Sunday, and at that time you might ask, "Why is there so much pavement that no one is using?"

[@New.orleans]

​@@jakurdadov6375whenever it rains they never have the pumps ready at all they are always off and the ppl that control them know the weather and how it gets and the drains are always blocked so the water cnt flew the way it needs to so thats how it floods even if its a light rain and the city dnt want to spend that kind of money on the highways they are to busy trying to see how they can still it

[@jakurdadov6375]

@@New.orleans Slow down. Use punctuation. I lived in New Orleans. What you say was not my experience. I know the pumps are not always off. I know they lower the canal water in advance of storms. I have been out to the Lake and have seen the discharge.

[@TheBTEAMwins]

Welp, we’ll find out after this weekend....

[@tutnod2449]

A metropolis never should have been built in that location.

[@roymustang5850]

It is common in the past though, water way is lifeline of civilization, it's common for people to build city near waterbody (especially in asian County) because the advantageous for living, water, mobility, etc. It's only after one country long established and more sustainable the problem starts to show, for all advantage it offers it also had disadvantages like annual flood etc.

[@theeslimstevie]

"Cough" "cough" Why don't they plant banana trees or bamboo?

[@UziMovie]

What would that do?

[@theeslimstevie]

@@UziMovie banna trees and bamboo requires tons of water to grow. If that waters being used it won't flood as much. Plus provides stability to foundations after certain amount of years of rooting. Louisiana is actually big producer in sugar cane. Why not add bamboo to list? Plus who doesn't like banana trees while walking down the street?

[@UziMovie]

@@theeslimstevie makes alot of sence

[@kelvinw.1384]

Plain and simple, the ones stating save New Orleans are appealing to feelings because logic shows it’s dumb to continually try to fight nature and build on sand. Because if you use logic all signs point to saving a sinking city as a waste of time and resources. Thus why appeals to feelings and history is all they have.

[@thinkingronin6178]

It's amazing what large scale engineering can accomplish. Unfortunately, politicians always severely underestimate the absolute need for continuous maintenance.

[@NoOne-kr4jc]

Maybe they don't severely underestimate. Maybe they love corporate money. I hope they are legitimate.

[@jakurdadov6375]

Thank you for such a positive message and outlook. So many videos about New Orleans' flooding are filled with lies, ignorance, and victim-blaming. You explained the facts as they are and what we can and are doing about it. Thank you.

[@Adrian-zd4cs]

Water always wins.

[@CertifiedCruella]

New Orleans will be soon the lost city

[@dinosaurus598]

In 20-30 years

[@jermainec2462]

Yeah with that type of attitude...

[@stoshbeast1]

It's not sinking, the sea is rising.

[@Grist]

Hi Josh, it's a combination of factors. Sea level rise, coastal erosion, and sinking land are all at play. Here's part 1 of a series on the Louisiana coast: grist.org/climate-energy/louisiana-is-drowning-quickly/

[@keithchief8390]

It is sinking but sea level is rising as well. Mexico City is also sinking but luckily they aren’t located on the coast and are in the mountainous area of Mexico.

[@dynamitenola1236]

This is pretty great video especially the part where Angela Chalk says “It’s incumbent on all of us to do our part.” Just to be fair and clear: The Army Corps of Engineers attempted 3 times to convince the citizens of Louisiana of ways to save the city from precisely a path like Katrina. At every attempt the citizens of New Orleans fought The Army. The Army listened and respected the concerns about affects on the wetlands and had a solid environmentally favorable plan back in the early 80’s but ultimately New Orleans’ leadership hence it’s citizens bear the blame by blocking the The Army and not doing anything. No one planned ahead or took any kind of action to protect the city from the inevitable. Solutions require cooperation at all levels but it begins with citizens taking ownership of it. We were totally incompetent. Ms.Chalk’s comment is incredibly important and gives me hope. Hope Americans can start taking more responsibility towards solutions. Thank you.

[@lemikehendrix357]

It's a swamp

[@jakurdadov6375]

@@dynamitenola1236 You're wrong about that. It's true that the Corps had a plan to block the entrance to Lake Pontchartrain. But, they were ordered by a judge to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in compliance with the Federal National Environmental Protection Act. The Corps didn't do it and shelved the plan. Many believe the EIS would have shown their plan was not environmentally sound and the Corps knew it. This fight was all over by the 1980s, and the Corps continued with a different plan to raise the levees. (I saw it under construction when I went to UNO in the 70s and 80s.) The Corps made many mistakes in the design and construction of that plan resulting in more than 50 failures of the system. Far from doing nothing, for 40 years, the Corps tinkered with the Lake Pontchartrain Vicinity Flood Protection Plan, and on August 29, 2005, they had still not completed it. It has been said that with one month of the Iraq War (then ongoing) funding, we could have built the entire system. Many presidents and many congresses dawdled for decades and this catastrophe occurred.

[@ninavelasquez1562]

Move out

[@ronikatjones]

Exactly

[@iheartshaneandjeffree]

I don’t expect an outsider to understand lol. Bye

[@dinosaurus598]

New Orleans is poor so it will be hard for most people to move out sadly.

[@lilripstaSSF4]

@@iheartshaneandjeffree it’s not about being an outsider, the wetlands that used to protect NOLA is gone, in 20-30 years most of it will starting really sinking into the Mississippi River

[@red4666]

New Orleans needs a bath.

[@Rainy_Day12234]

Living below sea level isn’t the smartest idea.

[@SV7-2100]

Just abandoned it it's not worth it anymore

[@ronikatjones]

Exactly

[@lemikehendrix357]

Right..its gonna happen soon..

[@jermainec2462]

No

[@jakurdadov6375]

What will you do for a port that connects the largest river commerce network with the oceans of the world?

[@potcha]

Why would you keep spending so much money, resources, time and effort to keep trying to stop the inevitable? This is a country with a population density of a mere 94 people per mile. There are plenty of places to live that are actually viable and tenable. To continue to live here is simply stubborn and stupid. When it gets flooded, yet again, or gets wrecked by a gigantic storm, yet again (and it will!) the residents will blame the government, racism from generations ago, the rich, and everything and everyone *but* the place the true blame will lie; with themselves. You don't get to keep making the same mistakes over and over again and continue getting sympathy as if you are some victim with no agency. This is _THEIR_ choice. They are *actively choosing* to be victimized. Yet the rest of us will foot the bill in the way of federal dollars, for their stubborn idiocy. This is supposed to be some 'inspiring' story, but it isn't. This is just the media gassing up a bunch of people who refuse to help themselves. They get what they get.

[@jakurdadov6375]

I hope you never need their help someday.

[@potcha]

@@jakurdadov6375 if New Orleans had needed help once, maybe twice and the world reaches out and helps them rebuild ELSEWHERE, as in, somewhere that is actually viable to live at long term, that would be without question, something we should and would happily do. But to insist on continuing to live there, knowing damn well that it will again be flooded and destroyed in the not-so-distant future and with increasing frequency and intensity is just willful negligence. I would not expect people to keep helping them anymore than I would expect firefighters to continue assisting a neighborhood of arsonists who keep setting their own homes ablaze. We cannot afford to throw scarce time and resources at projects that are 100% guaranteed to fail. That is stupid, wasteful and untenable.

[@jakurdadov6375]

@@potcha Where else is there a port that connects the water commerce system of the United States with the oceans of the world? It has to be down there. And the people who there have to live nearby.

[@potcha]

@@jakurdadov6375 what are you talking about? The entire country is made up of a suburb system of people who live outside of cities and drive to their place of work in the city. We have countless ports and no, the majority of people who work at them do not live on top of them. Here are the facts: The port of New Orleans only creates 8,880 jobs. Only 1.2% of New Orleans residents work at the port. Even if we throw in some extras for cruise ships and tours that is still vastly less than 5% of the population. Definitely not a good enough excuse to live in a guaranteed disaster zone, sorry.

[@gregnulik1975]

Building more basements to hold water only makes New Orleans more floodprone. What they need to do is elevate the ground to or above sea level, if possible. If they want to hold extra water in the newly built levels, that's up to them.

[@robbroussaed8530]

Some.of the water drainage problems, in the past were appointing positions in the water board ,as political favors, for votes for the mayor. Good jobs given to people who were deadheads.

[@lemikehendrix357]

It's a swamp

[@qswedin]

African Americans, not "black people". Thank you.

[@beldinalanti1850]

Not all black people are African Americans, thank you for playing. Try to be a little bit more open next time and not so closed minded.

[@qswedin]

@@beldinalanti1850 thank you for trying to capitalize the word black in the context of race. Not all African Americans are black either. Works both ways. I was simply reiterating that as a black man, which I don't think you are with such a stupid name like that. WE not you, rather be called African Americans than "black people". Stop trying to speak for us like y'all usually do.

[@beldinalanti1850]

@@qswedin Now you're just being ignorant. You know nothing of my background nor heritage and are defaulting to your own prejudices. Have fun living in your hate fueled life.

[@qswedin]

@@beldinalanti1850 your background photo speaks volumes. No need to speculate any further. You enjoy your day 😂👍🏽.

[@cyropower7808]

@@qswedin “not all African Americans are black” ….??? I’m curious as to what you’re talking about as a Nigerian American.

[@TheNextGoogification]

So it seems the levy system passed the recent test. Was watching the weather radar of that big storm. I imagine if it was the old Levy it would have been bad news??

[@jakurdadov6375]

Levee. The word you're looking for is "levee."

[@trackgangent.9878]

My City we do our Diddy

[@jhongauntt4918]

Hopetomakeitbetterblesslouisanahome

[@r.p.roberts8836]

I’d never live there.

[@melodyhart2017]

Louisiana must sacrifice everything below it,those parishes must be allowed to flood every year,this is the only way to save New Orleans !

[@mysticqueen74]

Some people don’t like the natural earth at all.

[@josephmaganja650]

😪, NO,ooooooo🌊🙄

[@williamevans6522]

LA and MS are made of deltaic sediment. That sediment compresses over time. It's only natural for these sediments to lose elevation.

[@augustusczar7375]

Someday they will be under a DOME

[@Dudemieser]

Has the army Corp of engineers ever not screwed something up

[@jakurdadov6375]

The River has behaved pretty much according to their design for more than a century.

[@amirijones4768]

I love my City💖💓💖

[@kingofkombat7304]

It ain’t gonna be a city in a few years.

[@dinosaurus598]

@@kingofkombat7304 It will still be an city in a few years , Probably 20-30 years later.

[@unlearnbusiness]

What a revolutionary solution to the problem caused by removal of water: putting the water back. LOL!

[@gbipit1]

And then along came Cantrell and destroyed it

[@lexishendrix1145]

What an awesome and inspiring approach to the water issue here!!

[@johnprendergast1338]

Well ,the land is sinking not to mention the billion-dollar levee system so, a big rain and a small surge ... 🐬

[@feyt.463]

Thank you for acknowledging the racial disparity in the video as it seems people think racism doesn’t exist in 2023 or that they have forgotten that levees were bl*wn up in 1927 in predominantly black neighborhoods. Choosing to ignore racism doesn’t make it go away…

[@jakurdadov6375]

The levees that were blown up in 1927 were not in New Orleans, they were about 15 miles downriver in rural Caernarvon. New Orleans has many racial problems, but this wasn't one.

[@disneydad2514]

We need to give up on new o

[@spitfirered]

Great Video Grist!

[@jordysmith3703]

Bad ass documentary!

[@emilohm4808]

Call Thrasher. 😋

[@martinsaunders7925]

Now let's talk about plate tectonics. The subduction of the North American plate to the Caribbean plate. So what? Well I looked out from Bay Cliff in Texas in the 1980s and remarked to a builder friend it was laughable to call this a cliff. 8ft above the water. He took me inside the house he was remodeling and pointed to the elevation on the original plans,1870s. It was 76ft. A resident of Clear Lake told me he giged flounder as a child with water up to his knees. It's 14ft deep now. The Mississippi River deposits kept south Louisiana above water? Where is the buildup from its outflow today?

[@telordesuvage3072]

The levees have made build up of land stop. It still happens in small areas but not in the areas that are being eroded the most

[@martinsaunders7925]

@@telordesuvage3072 the runoff of silt from the land in tropical storms and hurricanes hasn't filled in lake Ponchartrain.

[@CraszyDayne]

That was a very cute umbrella

[@stephaniewilson6990]

Great video.TY.