[StBernard] St. Bernard residents talk about "Hurricane Highway"

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard residents talk about "Hurricane Highway"
August 12, 11:44 AM . Chris Dier - New Orleans Liberal Examiner 

St. Bernard, LA.- The Mississippi Gulf Outlet, MRGO, is a channel that
provided a shorter route between the Gulf of Mexico and New Orleans's inner
harbor built in 1965.  It has been said to cause most of the flooding during
Katrina in St. Bernard Parish.  The residents, whom had nicknamed it
hurricane highway, always desired it closed.  Now that it is closed, they
shared their feelings yesterday at a forum on what they felt should be done
about the restoring the wetlands, something else that the MRGO is
responsible for destroying.  

                The MRGO Must Go Coalition set up a panel consisting of Greg
Miller (Army Corps), William Hyland & Ron Chapman (St. Bernard historians),
John Lopez (Lake Ponchartrain Basin Foundation), William McCartney (Parish
gov't), and Tim Doody (levee board president) were there to give
presentations about the history and future plans of the MRGO and answer
questions that the community raised.  Residents posed good questions and
recommendations, mostly to Greg Miller, which the panel said they would take
back with them to their workplaces.  Most residents expressed concern about
the delay of the Army Corps in getting things done and that time is of the
essence before another hurricane comes.

                I personally share the same concerns due to the fact that my
house was flooded during Katrina because of the MRGO.

                Stay tuned for more information about this story.  Many
video cameras were there so a video is inevitably going to get on the
internet and I'll post it as soon as I find it.

                To contact, join, or find more facts about the MRGO and the
MRGO Must Go Coalition please visit www.mrgomustgo.org