Business Insurance and the Myth of Hurricane Flood Risk Modeling in N.O. ~Paul R. Becker, president of the construction practice at Willis North America Inc. in Nashville, Tenn., and another participant on the October tour, said in talking with Willis brokers in New Orleans last week, “they really haven't seen much change based on the tour.” “We're choosing to look at it as half full,” Mr. Becker said, the glass' full half being that insurers participated on the tour and they are underwriting business in New Orleans. In the construction area and the market for builders risk property coverage, “generally it's available, although you need to get multiple carriers for things that are over $20 (million) to $25 million in size in the zone because (insurers) don't want to put that much capacity at risk,” Mr. Becker said. That coverage typically involves a high deductible, he said. In the fixed-property market, “our property guys are seeing what they characterize as massive increases—30%, 40%, 50%—and that's due to the infamous RMS 11 modeling,” Mr. Becker said in referring to Risk Management Solutions Inc.'s version 11 U.S. hurricane model. “The fixed property seems to be much more driven by the cat modeling than the builders risk.” ~Photo: Curtsey of our friends and comrade compadnas at The New Orleans Levee, who snapped this secret under cover lapel pin camera shot of a Corps Risk Reduction Handlin' Officer, CoRRHO, as he nervously Handles his Ratty Hands, furtively eying a newly completed Corps Risk Reducin' Experimental Action Model Assemblage, or CoRREAMA, made up entirely of print copies of The New Orleans Levee. Well, they don't hold anything back either!
Four major weekend events obscure the important coastal happening ~LaCoastPost ~Yesterday I was reminded by a coastal colleague that a fifth important event will happen Monday, January 9…but with extremely little fanfare. I’m talking about the release of the much anticipated* 2012 Louisiana Master Plan for Coastal Protection and Restoration.
Just as New Orleans Saints did in 2006, Detroit Lions lifting the spirits of a city ~Bob Marshall~We've been there, Detroit. We lived it for 12 agonizing months after sub-standard federal levees collapsed, turning a hurricane named Katrina into a record-setting disaster and killing 1,400 of our neighbors. Their bodies were still floating in the streets, wedged in attics when the insults began, from the talk-radio oracles and even national politicians. "Why would you live there? Why spend money fixing that city? The people are crazy to move back. It should be moved. If they want to live there, they should help themselves. All they want is a handout." It continued as we buried our dead, gutted our houses, reopened our schools and businesses. It became such a constant refrain -- following us even on vacations and business travel - we gave up responding. We became resigned to the fact that it would always be "open season" on our city. Then the 2006 NFL season opened.
The truth, gosh…it’s just “so long and so complicated…” ~Disenfranchised Citizen ~And academically speaking, it’s got to be hard to be Board Chairwoman, Glenna Kramer, so I have taken it upon myself to offer up the text of a marker, text I think she would certainly approve of, and I doubt will offend anyone, unless they were to care at all about what happened in Louisiana at the breach site of the 17th Street Canal and the East side North breach site of the Industrial Canal, but anyways, here goes: “At this site, on some date, something happened, which caused a lot of other things to happen, bad things, though none of these bad things came as a result of anyone’s fault because tragedies are sometimes like that, blameless. And so we remember the loss of life, of homes, of community and confidence we once shared that bad things such as the kind that happened here, wouldn’t ever actually happen, and will hopefully never happen again.” Nomination for Katrina breach sites sparks debate ~Kevin McGill Final version of Corps MO River flood plan
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/01/06/3356159/nomination-for-katrina-breach.html#storylink=cpy
Despite the Board’s 3-yes, 6-no vote, the State Historic Preservation Officer, Ms. Pam Breaux and her staff continues to support the eligibility of the two breach sites. On December 29, Ms. Breaux confirmed that she has sent Levees.org’s 39-page nomination along with her letter of support and other documents pertinent to the breach sites’ eligibility to the Corps of Engineer’s Federal Preservation Officer in Washington, DC. This is in accordance with regulations 36 CFR 60 which govern the National Register process. “We believe the document to be procedurally and professionally correct,” stated Ms. Breaux in her cover letter to the FPO.
According to Ms. Nicole Hobson-Morris, executive director of the State Preservation Office, the state Review Board does not have the final say. “We will be sending the nomination to the FPO,” said Ms. Hobson-Morris. “We will also send all 44 letters of support for the nomination including U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu’s letter.” Mark Barnes, consultant to Levees.org noted that sending the nomination text to the FPO is an appropriate step. “It’s an attempt to obtain a solid statement of support for the nomination from the corps or not, “ said Mr. Barnes.
According to regulations, the corps’ Federal Preservation Officer, Mr. Terrence Salt has 60 days to respond with the federal agency’s position on the eligibility of the two levee breach sites. Click here for cover letter from Ms. Pam Breaux to the Federal Preservation Office. To see who voted and their comments click here for transcript of Review Committee Meeting. To see who submitted letters of support click here.
Founded in November 2005 by Sandy Rosenthal and her then 15-year old son, Stanford Rosenthal, Levees.org is a flood protection advocacy group devoted to education about the true cause of the catastrophic flooding in the New Orleans region during Katrina.
~Editilla What the Hellas~ Sorry y'all, but Ah gotta step in heah. Correct me if Ah'm wrong, this is the State HISTORICAL Review Board, right? Mah lovely step-mother, rest her soul, was a History Professor at Delta State University mah entire life and I can remember her saying one day, "A 'History' by definition is a simple story to many people, yet our pursuit of it involves -at least- complicated dedication." Ah'm just wondering what is the Fickn Problem here wit'dees faux history buffs on this pseudo Hysterical Review Committee? Now, I've read the Levees.org proposal Twice, and bare in mind Ah had 2 strokes during this in December, and Ah got it just fine. Ah'm jes'sayin... Ah have certified brain damage and did not have any trouble with Getting the levees.org proposal. Indeed, back in the August Heat, we went to Baton Rouge to witness the FIRST full powerpoint presentation by Mrs, Rosenthal to this band of hayseeds. (It should be noted here, but Mrs Rosenthal is a nice Lady, that the Corps stepped in, like schoolyard punks, at the last minute, with their own erroneous property ownership issues to scuttled the entire presentation that day. Yet, Mrs Rosenthal bravely soldiered on with it for the Committee, and had to return a few months later with Exactly the same presentation --to which these History Rogues thumbed their provincially ignorant noses.) Yes, it is thick with Data, incredibly copious details about Exactly what happened and where. Indeed, the NRHP requires nothing less. They encourage the nominator to include As Much Detail As Possible. It's the way these things work. This is the Only Way these things work. Levees.org had to have put in WEEKS/MONTHS pouring over geographical GIS maps, cultural HISTORY, city plats, photographs, geotechincal studies, court rulings, expensive title searches, whateva the NRHP wanted --and they want it all! High Five to Sandy Rosenthal and her krewe! This is what it means to FINISH STRONG in The City the Care Forgot and the Goddamned Exquisite Corps of Engineers Left For Dead!
Yet, our State Hysterical Review Committee seems to be dominated by Lazy Historians! They must hail from Yankee North Louisiana or other boondock environs of the tragically ill-bred, badly medicated Nola-haters. Our State Hysterical Committee members look at History and say "EWE! THIS IS TOO COMPLICATED!" Our State Hysterical Committee members look at History and simply stick their heads in the sandy levees. To these boorish white-sock wearing nimnybobs in Baton Rouge Ah say: FYYFFs! Exonerated death row inmate John Thompson digs for the roots of New Orleans crime epidemic~Jed Horn, The Lens
Why can't Louisiana flex our muscle like Brazil~The flexibility of Brazilian FFVs empowers the consumers to choose the fuel depending on current market prices. As ethanol fuel economy is lower than gasoline because of ethanol's energy content is close to 34% less per unit volume than gasoline, flex cars running on ethanol get a lower mileage than when running on pure gasoline. However, this effect is partially offset by the usually lower price per liter of ethanol fuel. As a rule of thumb, Brazilian consumers are frequently advised by the media to use more alcohol than gasoline in their mix only when ethanol prices are 30% lower or more than gasoline, as ethanol price fluctuates heavily depending on the result of seasonal sugar cane harvests. Make ‘Em Say Uhh! NOLA Rappers ~ Where are they now?~INVADE NOLA Woody Allen & His New Orleans Jazz Band ~Vince Keenan
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
On the subject of Drew Brees' unquestioned greatness ~Alejandro De Los Rios Drew Dat~Beauty Jackson, Red Bean Dreams The Paradox of the National Team ~Tom Junod, Esquire ~And so the game last night was a contest between one of the teams that is powerfully local, and plays at a level of interest to a national fan base; and one of the teams that appeals to a fan base deracinated by definition, and is of no interest to anyone who doesn't read the local sports pages. A contest, in other words, between Drew Brees and Matt Ryan — between a quarterback who aspires, in his 11th year, to avenge all the wrongs ever visited on him or his adopted hometown, and a quarterback who, after five years in the league, aspires to an abstracted idea of excellence, like any other middle-manager on the go.
Anonymous hacks Harry Shearer ~Charles Maldonado, Gambit ~I went through it using the search term "New Orleans," and there, in a list heavy on professors, lawyers, defense contractors, real estate developers and energy sector employees, was Shearer. There too were a New Orleans address, an out-of-state phone number, a personal email address and a credit card number, which, if it's active, I hope he's canceled. Update (4:35 p.m.): I emailed a few questions to Shearer. Here are his responses:
A. Stratfor has contacted me. B. That credit card was compromised and has been canceled. C. I subscribed to Stratfor for one year, at the recommendation, as it happens, of a New Orleans friend of mine. PS: I'm supporting Sandy Rosenthal as New Orleanian of the Year.
~Editilla Notellas~ Gentle'rillas interested in seconding Our Herolero we urge yous to contact these people and let them know you support da nomination.
~Hat Tweet @BywaterNeighBywaterNeighborAssoc~It was the day before Christmas and all through the nabe, the word went forth, 'The Farmers Market is Open!" The... fb.me/1lFZsh93e
~Editilla Mondellas~ I know, Gentlerillas, it's a hard week before the Big Thingy! Sooooo think about beating the Dirty Birds next Monday, with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band!
~Rat Fink spies the evil British Usurpers paying chefs Emeril Lagasse and John Besh to promote Gulf seafood, it’s hired two seafood trucks to hand out fish tacos and seafood-filled jambalaya to the hundreds of thousands of tourists and fans pouring into the city for the football games and it’s spreading its messages at galas, pre-game parties and vacation giveaways.
