Exciting News and What You Can Do !
Levees.org
August 5, 2010
Engineers and scientists all agree.
The Levee Breaches in metro New Orleans on August 29, 2005 were the worst civil engineering disaster in our nation's history.
For this reason, Levees.org has nominated two Levee Breach Sites to the National Register of Historic Places.
It's a huge honor to be listed on the National Register.
It's also very unusual for a property to be listed on the Register that is less than 50 years old. Nonetheless, the Louisiana Division believes the Breach Sites are of "exceptional significance" and has accepted the first draft of our nomination.
The documentation required is voluminous, and we were compelled to select two breaches which we felt - by themselves - might best represent the scope of the devastation on August 29, 2005. We selected the 17th Street Canal and the Industrial Canal East Side (north breach) which failed by the identical - and undisputed - failure mechanism, an improper design by the Army Corps of Engineers.
But this is just the beginning. After the initial two nominations are approved and listed, they will pave the way for additional sites under our Multi Property Nomination. We will nominate more breach sites, including, but not limited to, the London Avenue Canal Breach and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet Breaches which affected St. Bernard Parish.
And there's more!
One day, and only with full neighborhood backing and support, we envision a National Park. With community cooperation, we envision a designated space with trees, fountains, trails and plaques. People from all over the world could come to learn, to remember, to appreciate and to honor the significance of the Levee Breaches.
We are modeling our vision on the Johnstown Flood National Memorial Park in South Fork, Pennsylvania which has received the very highest status possible. There is no reason the Levee Breaches of New Orleans cannot reach this highest possible federal designation.
Want to help?
Do you have photographs of the 17th Street Canal Levee Breach or the Industrial Canal Levee Breach taken in 2005 with pixel array of at least 3000 x 2000 with RGB color mode? If yes, please forward them for possible inclusion! Please include your name, date photo was taken and the exact address of the photograph.
Your contribution could become part of the federal archive and be preserved for perpetuity.
Thank you for your support of Levees.org.
We're winning!
Sandy Rosenthal
Founder, Levees.org
www.levees.org
Click here for Associated Press article.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hK3rUJw8qIOZHDMJ4vMBXIGfXkwgD9HCTL700
Click here for more on the Johnstown Flood National Memorial Park
http://www.nps.gov/jofl/index.htm
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