Flood control

On January 31, 1953, a 'perfect storm' of high spring tide, severe windstorm, and a tidal surge caused water levels to rise 18 feet above normal, overwhelming sea defenses and causing extensive flooding.  Nearly 2,400 people died, 70,000 were evacuated, and 47,300 buildings were damaged; 10,000 were completely destroyed.

In response, the government embarked on an ambitious project to reduce floods to one in 10,000 years.  Although the Delta Works were 'officially' completed in 1997, in reality they were finished in August this year with the opening of the last strengthend and raised water retaining wall.  However, the government is already revisitng the plans in light of global warming and coastal flooding.  The American Society of Civil Engineers listed the project on its 'Seven Wonders of the Modern World.'
 
By comparison, on September 9, 1965, Hurricane Betsy made landfall with winds of 110mph, driving a storm surge 10 feet above normal, breaching several levees. Although only 76 people died, the hurricane caused nearly $1.5 billion in damage, including flooding 164,000 homes.  In response, the government built new levees designed specifically to resist a fast-moving Category 3 hurricane like Betsy.

40 years later, on August 29, 2005, a large, slow-moving, Category 3 hurricane made landfall at the same spot, breeching the new levees and killing 1,836 people, causing $8.1 billion in damage, and flooding over one million homes. Five years later, most of the levees have been reconstructed to 'modern standards' but thousands of residents are still living in temporary accommodation, and there are ongoing funding battles over the remaining levee improvements.  There is no plan in place to prevent a similar disaster in the future, and the threat of global warming has not even been acknowledged.

The first example was in the Netherlands, and the second was in New Orleans.

Sometimes I feel like I'm just picking on the US, comparing it unfavorably to other countries.  However, what I'm really trying to point out that the richest nation on the planet could -- and should -- be doing things much better, and that secular ignorance is no excuse.  If other countries (with more limited resources) can do the right thing, there is no reason the US can't.