Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System

Angela DeSoto-Duncan, P.E.

Deputy Chief of the Execution Support Division Hurricane Protection Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

March 19, 2011

US Army Corps of Engineers

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Hurricane Katrina Storm Surge

IPET Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force

Over 150 members: academia, industry, state and federal agencies Charged to answer 5 Questions:
Flood Storm Performance Consequences Risk

Protection System

Peer review by National Academy of Sciences and ASCE Draft report June 2006 Final report released spring 2009
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Hurricane Protection Decision Chronology Findings:

Key Decision Influences Tyranny of Incremental Decisions

Loss of Vision for an Integrated System

Shared Sensitivity to Cost Concerns

Lack of Dynamic Use of New Information

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Institutional Response

Organizational Decision-Making Issues

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HSDRRS Lessons Learned

Comprehensive systems approach Risk-informed decision making Communication of risk to the public Professional and technical expertise

Multiple Lines of Defense

(Graphic from www.mlods.org )

Elements include: Coastal restoration/protection Structural measures Non-structural features

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Hurricane Paths Considered in the Risk Analysis

3 HSDRRS Geometries
Pre-Katrina Current

(1 June 07)

100-year

152 storms
25

yr to 5,000+ yr

350+ features
Floodwalls
8 7 6 5

Levees Pumps

Stations

Elevation (ft)

4 3 2 1 0 1 -1 Time (days) 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7

62,928 Hurricane
Hydrographs
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IHNC-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier

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Buying Down Risk:

Shared Responsibility
Initial Risk Zoning / Building Codes Coastal Protection and Restoration Outreach Evacuation Plan Insurance

Risk
10

Levees / Floodwalls / Structures

Residual Risk

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