Mississippi River Flooding: 2011 Levee Repairs Could Cost $1 Billion

VICKSBURG, Miss. -- A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official says the cost of repairing Mississippi River levees that were damaged by this year's flooding could reach $1 billion, but it's not clear how much funding will be available.

Col. Thatch Shepard, deputy commander of the Mississippi River Division, told The Associated Press on Thursday that repairing the levee system could cost $700 million to $1 billion. The Corps budget for the fiscal year is $210 million, so Shepard said he's hoping Congress will approve supplemental funding.

There were preliminary signs this week that Congress is listening.

A House Appropriations panel on Wednesday approved $1 billion in emergency money to repair levees and other flood control projects damaged by flooding along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The Senate panel has yet to act.

Comments

[Paula Jenks]

04:33 AM on 07/05/2011

The government is/has PURPOSELY FLOODED these lands in order to take the land. Once it's flooded, and people have nothing left, they swoop in and buy it cheap. Here is the proof. Here is what lame stream media isn't telling you... ( what's up with that Huff Post?)

http://www.truthistreason.net/george-soros-and-army-corps-of-engineers-buying-up-farmland-that-they-flooded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNOkqAJRtSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CZW5YqcSFA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/user/MaryGreeley#p/u/2/f6PcKYClwUc

[Lisa Shields]

07:04 AM on 06/20/2011

If you make a study of natural disasters, you will note that farming is frequently done on disaster prone areas...all over the world. The same areas prone to flooding are usually rich in agricultural options. There is no richer soil than one from an island that has volcanic action, long term. For the last 50 years, we've been growing houses, instead of crops. Out in Vegas, they built like mad...in the middle of the desert. We build on fragile shore lands because we like pretty ocean views...then scream when hurricanes destroy the property.

The point is that there is no "safe" or risk free places to build. Farming requires water...and if the farmers had to pay for every drop used for crops, food prices would become ridiculously high. The reason the different regions get federal help is because they supply the nation, one way or another. Or was I the only one who saw prices shoot up after Katrina?

[Kenz300]

04:38 PM on 06/19/2011

Levees are part of the problem. Instead of trying to channel a river into smaller and smaller areas we need to widen the area to allow more volume of water. We need to quit building on flood plains and create larger water storage areas. Wetlands are natures natural water storage areas. we need to protect them instead of letting developers build on them. We need to have more protected areas along rivers that include wetlands, parks, nature preserves, farm land and water storage areas.

[Youcantstandthetruth]

12:00 PM on 06/17/2011

Since this is a red state obese in welfare from the Federal Government they will probably get the money so casinos and big business interests can be bailed out, again.

[TYRANNASAURUS]

11:55 AM on 06/17/2011

Mississippi River Levee Repairs Could Cost $1 Billion........

I would pay one penny for it............those people are living in the Mississippi's flood plain...the river has been moving it's course since it's been there....move the people out...they don't belong there or make them take swimming lessons....don't waste the money.

[Squiggie]

11:51 AM on 06/17/2011

"...A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers official says the cost of repairing Mississippi River levees that were damaged by this year's flooding could reach $1 billion, but it's not clear how much funding will be available..."

I hate to break it to Mississippians, but you guys are kinda low on the totem pole. We first have to build infrastructure in Afghanistan and Iraq before we get to you. You just continue to pay your taxes and we'll get to you when we can find some extra cash.

[Michael Little]

12:15 PM on 06/17/2011

For accuracy purposes, it's not Mississippians requesting the money, it's the Army Corp of Engineers. The money is to repair breaches in levees from Montana to Louisiana.

[cornel]

11:44 AM on 06/17/2011

Next, Cantor will announce that to help those people touched by the Mississippi floods we will have to get rid of the food stamps program [ http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/agriculture/food-subsidies ] and give the super rich an extra 5% tax break !

[bmora]

11:36 AM on 06/17/2011

Let the private sector handle it.

[Bufford P Tusser]

12:04 PM on 06/17/2011

I think they should pray more, that should help.

[Bullitt08]

11:22 AM on 06/17/2011

The Levees should not be rebuilt.

Levees are bad in so many ways. They push flood waters downriver where they accumulate and cause massive flooding in "somebody else's backyard".

Periodic flooding is mother nature's way of restoring river valleys with new soil and nutrients.

No government funds should be given to rebuild in flood prone areas. Any relief must be for relocation to higher ground.

[Boduognat]

11:43 AM on 06/17/2011

"The Levees should not be rebuilt."

And think of all the Wars that could be started with those billions of $$$$ ... !

[GonzoFactor]

11:21 AM on 06/17/2011

Wow. A billion. What three days of involvement in Afghanistan is costing, with benefits that will be there for decades, versus throwing money down a middle Eastern rathole that seems to only be costing us with no end in sight. Just fix the bloody things and be done with it.

[MikeDu]

11:18 AM on 06/17/2011

The heartland of America flooding get's second-tier news status in the 'Green' section while Mr. Weiner's weiner dominates the top stories. The combination of inside-the-beltway and under-the-beltway gives that story precedence.

[Blackwing]

11:06 AM on 06/17/2011

Instead of getting bailed out by the rest of us let's make these people who choose to live in a flood plain build their houses on stilts. Maybe the corporate/Monsanto farmers should start growing rice instead of corn and beans. But no, we'll see the red state Republicans begging for more welfare money for the levees.

[Bufford P Tusser]

12:14 PM on 06/17/2011

While complaining about food stamps to someone else.

[William50]

11:03 AM on 06/17/2011

Unless your brain dead we would rather spend the billion on US workers helping the US economy then shooting up Libya!

[Bufford P Tusser]

12:25 PM on 06/17/2011

Or Iraq! There is NO comparrison between the two, either in monetary cost or the human toll. But I have to assume by the one sided tenor of your post you'd disagree. Get off it already, Libya unfortunatley is a drop in the bucket. Lets see if I understand you.
Iraq (dubya) = good
Libya (Obama) = bad

Now that that is understood, spare us the nonsense, and come back when you have something to contribute.

[tAX gURU]

10:45 AM on 06/17/2011

Of course, these states want the federal government to bailed them out.

[Bufford P Tusser]

12:27 PM on 06/17/2011

Take your gubmit hands off my levee repair money!

[Cornhusker40]

10:36 AM on 06/17/2011

You folks are going to have to "tighten your belts, be responsible and hold on" until we gain control of the world. THEN, we (might) have funds to assist you.
Sincerely,
The Administration

[ram6968]

11:40 AM on 06/17/2011

pitch your tent on a railroad track and blame the train on god