Gulf Coast Hurricane Damage Prevention Bill

[Emsworth]

Gulf Coast Hurricane Damage Prevention Bill

The Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet is hereby closed.

Sponsor: Sen. Ebowed

[CheeseWhiz]

What does this mean exactly?  Will all the business on the gulf be closed?  Is this temporary, or permanent?

[Emsworth]

I believe that the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet is a publicly owned canal that provides a route from the Gulf of Mexico to the inner harbor of New Orleans. It is not used very often (supposedly by about one barge each day).

(Source)

[CheeseWhiz]

Oh, okay.  Thanks!

[PBrunsel]

How do we intend to just "shut down" this area. How many citizens currently live there? Can we simply evict them?

[Ebowed]

I don't believe it has any population besides the workers on the barge (?).

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Surely this is a Regional issue?

[PBrunsel]

I don't believe it has any population besides the workers on the barge (?).

Of course. My mistake, I misread the area. I thought it said "area" not "outlet". Of course only the workers would preside on the barge.

[Emsworth]

Surely this is a Regional issue?

The canal is controlled by the federal government at present. I wouldn't particularly mind transferring control to the region, though, and letting the People of the Southeast decide to do with it whatever they please.

[Brandon H]

To the members of the Atlasian Senate,

I would first like to thank Senator Ebowed for bringing this bill to the Senate Floor. Outside of the Metropolitan New Orleans Area, most people are probably not familiar with the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO - pronounced MR. GO), why it should be closed, and why it is of any concern to the federal government.

My apologies if I am mixing real-life vs. Atlasian Law here, but the MRGO is controlled by the Army Corp. of Engineers so it is a federal issue. If it is deemed fit in Atlasia that the regional government has the authority to close the MRGO, then someone please make this clear.

The MRGO is a ship channel that was contructed in the 1960s which was to serve as a shortcut from the Gulf of Mexico to the Port of New Orleans. But the economic gains have been minimal and do not come close to outweighing its costs. MRGO contributed to the destruction of parts of New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish, including my families home, during Hurricane Katrina. Without MRGO, damage still would have taken place, but it would not have as bad.

The MRGO was originally 650 feet wide when constructed but because of erosion and salt water brought in from the Gulf of Mexico it is now over 2000 feet wide. These marshes would have helped protect the area from any wind-driven storm surge. Instead, the marshes are disappearing and the MRGO served as a channel that only increased the storm surge.

When constructed many thought the MRGO would provide an economic boom to the area. But it did not. Less than five ships a day travel the MRGO and it has cost as much as $22 million to redredge it. That comes out to $12,000 per ship.

While there would be a large cost to close the MRGO, this is money that would not have to be spent in the future. After witnessing the damage of Hurricane Katrina, one should realize that the costs of keeping the MRGO open are more than just financial.

I thank you for your time.

Image of MRGO

Sources:
Commission to Close the MRGO
Baltimore Sun - "The Awful Price of Coastal Ruin"
"Future of MRGO not much rosier than past"
Washington Post  - "Canal May have Worsened City's Flooding"
LSU Study on MRGO (pdf)

[Emsworth]

The question is on final passage. All those in favor, say Aye; those opposed, say No.

[Q]

Especially in light of Brandon H's testimony, Aye.

[Defarge]

I would like to thank Brandon H for his information on the subject.  Aye

[True Democrat]

Aye

Basically what everyone else said.  Brandon H's testimony was the deciding factor for me.

[Ebowed]

Yea

[MasterJedi]

Aye

[DanielX]

Abstain. I'd like to confirm if the Federal Government is responsible before voting a definite 'aye'.

[Emsworth]

With five ayes and an abstention, the bill has enough votes to pass. Senators have 24 hours to vote or change their votes.

[PBrunsel]

Aye

[Emsworth]

There have voted:

Aye: 6
No: 0
Abstain: 1

The bill is accordingly passed, and presented to the President for his signature.

[Siege40]

Siege40

[Brandon H]

I'd like to thank the Senate and President Siege for passing this Bill.