Yesterday, there was some disturbing news on the ABC News evening broadcast.  Charlie Gibson reported that the Army Corps of Engineers had identified 146 levees nationwide that it said posed an unacceptable risk of failing in a major flood.  The deficiencies were mostly due to poor maintenance and were going to force a number of communities from Connecticut to California to invest millions of dollars in repairs.  A Sacramento, CA man was interviewed who indicated that he had been informed that his flood insurance rate was going to quadruple.

In a related article by USA Today, the Corps and FEMA were quoted as saying "We've been lax as a nation in our operation and maintenance of these levees, and it's time to tighten up". said Larry Larson, director of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, an organization for officials who run flood-control systems.  "You're talking about risking a lot of lives if one of these fails".

My interest peaked.  I wondered where these levees were located and if any were in my state.  Apparently, initial release of this information was somewhat muted and only indicated the total number in each state.  Small comfort if your state was on the list, but you had no idea where this potential tragedy could occur next.  USA Today had to file a request for the list under the Freedom of Information Act to gain access to the actual targeted levees.

In 2001, I traveled to New Orleans, sponsored by my local Board as a Director.  We spent almost a week in this curiously, engaging city.  The National Association of Realtors (NAR) conference was largely held at the Convention Center and we walked and toured the downtown area and surrounding communities extensively.  So, the sights that unfolded after Hurricane Katrina and the accompanying specter of the breaking of the levees was heartbreaking to see.  I had been in those areas, had eaten at local restaurants.  New Orleans was one of the most hospitable large cities I have ever visited.  The sight of "MOM's, a popular local eatery which served traditional Cajun dishes, surrounded by water with employees living in trailers was bizarre and extreme.

*Picture of Ms. Meridith huddled outside the New Orelans Convention Center in the wake of Katrina & subsequent flooding.

Why is this important to Local Homeowners?

According to the USA Today article, local officials are concerned that some cities may not be able to afford the recommended upgrades.  Here in Michigan, we are dealing with a huge Budget shortfall this year.  Secondly, if the repairs are NOT made within the 1 year grace period, millions of homeowners may suddenly find that their property has been reclassified to be in a flood plain and be required to carry expensive flood insurance.  Lastly, as Katrina demonstrated this can be a very dangerous situation.  Lots of water is wonderful when it is contained appropriately but unchecked, even small waves of water can wreck havoc not unlike the damage and upheaval from any major assault or terrorist attack.

 To check which communities in approximately 30 states are affected, you may check for a status update on this list.

According to the ABC broadcast, Hartford, Connecticut was able to raise a bond issue to cover the initial 5 million in repairs, but they expect to have to spend quite a bit more to get the job done correctly.  Is your community informed and ready?

So, what did I find out about my State of Michigan.  Well, thankfully none of the levees were located in the West Michigan area.  However, Michigan had 4 levees in need of urgent attention in our largest, most populous city of Detroit, Michigan.  The specter of  that type of potential devastation in a state which is struggling to recover from recession like symptoms is not pretty.

*I did find some discrepancies in the number of levees in need of repair.  This on-line article on Boston.com indicates the number to be 122.  It also highlights the kinds of problems which are in need of repair.

*Picture of Ms. Meridith at the New Orleans Convention Center is courtesy of Voice of America and is a part of the public domain.

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