John Goodman for safe levees in the USA

[4nola27]

We MUST have an 8 /29 INVESTIGATION to determine what went wrong and the solution to prevent this from happening again. The worst ENGINEERING disaster in the history of the USA. Bring in engineers from The Netherlands who are already successful at Flood Prevention and engineering. People of NOLA cannot TRUST any local contractors, engineers, US Army Corps of Engineers, nor the USACE.

These are criminal actions, stop the assault on the people of New Orleans

[rardances]

Two weeks before Katrina, I visited NOLA. As we drove around, and already some areas were closed, I asked my host: "Is there water around here." At that time I sensed water all around us. My host responded that NOLA was below sea level. More amazing to me, than my sense of foreboding, was the host's non-chalant response. I wondered why NOLA's own residents choose to not do something to help their wonderful city. Katrina hit. I felt for NOLA in a pround way.

[urapussyuarewhatueat]

klk

[judecancer]

Love ya John. Been missin' you around ole Met,, love you videos, especially the pet preparedness one. You're looking svelte,

[lablvr55]

Isn't it apparent now that our own government are the terrorists? This government rebuilt Indonesia after the tsunami, but nola is still abandoned except for the CBD and the French Quarter which was not badly impacted.

America, do you CARE??? Remember, there are levees in all 50 states,bridges too, it will be you next.

[80schile]

Actually the CBD is pretty bad too. It looks like a third of the high rises are empty. However, some I think were empty before the storm.

[4nola27]

All 50 states have levees in disrepair and those same levees have not been maintained in the last 40 years. Sign petitions, call your congressional representatives now. California is at great risk due to the levees in Sacramento. If those break, no one in Ca will have any water, no tap water, no water at all. Think about it, it will affect us all.

[VincenzoP81]

People care so little about New Orleans and Louisiana that we can't even have a film on Youtube featuring a national celebrity without the conversation becoming about Iraq. Can't we talk about the people in our own country? Truly, we have been forgotten.

[audiofile7]

I visited New Orleans for the first time last summer. I will never forget it. Despite the devastation, the city is very much alive. It is undeniably unique and I can't wait to go back.

[wolfgangle]

Respect for some of the soldiers but what would you do if tens of 1000s of Arab soldiers would occupy your country to "protect their freedom"?

[TheNilvarg]

We don't threaten their freedom. We ensure their freedom by dethroning a genocidal dictator, instilling them with democracy, and allowing them to decide their future by giving them the right to vote.

Strawman arguments do not win.

[wolfgangle]

"God bless America. And God bless the fighting men who keep her free." Please could you explain to me who is "threatening your freedom"? You`re an incredibly idiotic lemming. Any soldier who got deported to Irak will tell you that when he comes back with amputated legs.

[krazykiefer]

Families can't move back to New Orleans unless they feel protected and well provided for. Our protection against flooding is the levee system, I'm not pointing fingers, I just want it fixed. Our protection against crime are police officers, I want more officers back on the streets. To provide for my family you must supply my kids with education, I want our schools back. Attention United States: Please focus on domestic complications first.

[TheNilvarg]

Attention New Orleans, stop worrying about the federal government's response, and start worrying about your incompetent, corrupt Mayor, Raycist Nagin, who is to blame for most complications that surrounded Katrina.

[VincenzoP81]

When Katrina made landfall in Buras it was a low 4 - high 3. It decreased in strength and surge as it moved towards NOLA. The western end hit Slidell and the eastern end hit Hancock Co. NOLA experienced 80 mph winds. The levees were built using outdated data and failed below design specs. These facts are pretty basic and widely known. Being insistent does not mean you are right.

[HoppinHill]

LeveesOrg is a citizens advocacy group not a "case." The non sectarian non partisan grassroots group's mission is education that New Orleans was destroyed primarily by bad levees, and not bad weather.

[Zapadac]

If you want to win your case, you don't even mention the category of the storm, because that refers to wind only. Levees have nothing to do with wind. To win your case, you mention the faulty flood wall construction, and that they failed when the water level in the canals was lower than what they were rated at. Forget about storm category, or you lose!!

[Zapadac]

The problem with leveeorg is that they are trying to claim Katrina missed New Orleans and that it was only Cat 1 or 2. The government lawyers are going to walk all over that. Katrina's west eyewall past over the east side of the city limits. The storm surge was 18-20 feet. Clearlt not a miss, clearly not Cat 3 surge.

[bubbarose]

"The storm had a Cat 5 storm surge." You are right, but not in the metro New Orleans area, it was the Gulf Coast that got that Cat 5 surge, still it is a good point that the water was worse than a normal Cat2 would bring.

[Zapadac]

In New Orleans East, the surge was 18-20 feet. My dad's house is 7.5 feet above sea level and the water was to his cealing, 8 feet high. That comes to 15.5 foot surge at least.

[Zapadac]

If you check the photos from NOAA after the storm, you will see boats on top of the levee near Downman Road and Hayne Blvd. The water came over the levee at Hayne and behind the Entergy plant.

[bubbarose]

Once and for all, for all who don't get it: THE FEDERAL LEVEES FAILED, AND THEY FAILED AT CATEGORY 2! The Army Corps has admitted that this was solely the fault of the Army Corps, so why don't all these frigtards listen to them and get behind the rebuilding?

[Zapadac]

The storm had a Cat 5 storm surge.

[HoppinHill]

Dear Zapadac:

This is Fact Two directly from LeveesOrg's website:

"Katrina missed New Orleans. Winds in the New Orleans area were in the Cat 1 to Cat 2 range and the tidal surges about a Cat 3."

In places where the water was higher was due to funnelling effects caused by Corps-built water projects. That is why the Ninth Ward which is mostly bove sea level got so much water.

[Zapadac]

Not True. The western edge of Katrina's eye past over the eastern edge of New Orleans. Also, my dad's house is near US 90 and HWY 11, 7.5 feet ABOVE sea level, just outside the levee. He had over 8 feet of water in his house. The debris line is 18 feet above seal level.

[Zapadac]

And I refer you to this website...do a Google Search for Stephen A Nelson at Tulane University (Hurricane Katrina..What Happened) You will see photos where flood walls were topped and the levee along Hayne Blvd scoured and eroded as the water flowed over.

[cyndibble]

Thanks John, and sorry about your beautiful house, flooded by the US Army Corps of Engineers! Glad you call N.O. home, my friend. We need you.

By the way, you look fabulous on your new diet!

Dibbie

[abelouise1109]

Can someone make sure that Bush and cronies watches this? Perhaps beam it to their brain-radio-control mechanism through the black box beneath the suit jacket? Thank you.

[shukork]

Our capable contractors are in Iraq. Please bring them back or perhaps we can even give them the jobs here too.

[oslin1]

I think we need to consider a system like that used in the Netherlands (a lock) in addition to improving the levees. New Orleans is a national treasure and if we have the resources to spend billions in Iraq, we can surely find the money to preserve the soul of our nation.

[AnnNCephalic]

Arguing about the failures of city, state, regional, and federal officials/agencies to act quickly in response to Katrina is a waste of time. Better luck next time.

The FACTS are astoundingly weak levees were built by the Corps of Engineers, a Federal agency. The MAJORITY of destruction in New Orleans was caused by LEVEE BREACHES which occurred after Katrina hit and moved on.  The chronology of events proves several key levees were breached AFTER the storm.

[Zapadac]

Absolutely Not True...Go to Nola dot com and type in

/katrina/graphics/flashflood.s­wf

[HoppinHill]

Mr. Armstrong,

You are repeating a myth. Even the USACE has admitted that federal (not state) errors caused the majority of the flooding in New Orleans. Two other independent studies say the federal causation is even higher. All this is public record and is not disputed.

[lindakocher]

I hope a lot of people from many parts of the country listen to what John Goodman is saying, take it to heart, and learn from it. I'm a native New Orleanian who thought the city was protected by the levee system designed by the Corps of Engineers. I was wrong. No one deserves the tragedy we're still living with. And the biggest insult is that it could have been avoided.

[armstrongw5]

The levee system was designed to the budget based on your states politics. Blame your shitty government, not the engineers who designed what they could with the money they had. They told the state the the system was under designed for a cat. 5 hurricane. Clean the shit out of your ears.

[armstrongw5]

nah im just messin with you, it was the corps fault.

[thekenyadee]

Hate to dissapoint you, armstrong, but by the time Katrina hit New Orleans it was a CAT 2 - and the Corps said their levees could withstand CAT 3. So by any estimation, the USACE did the residents a disservice.

[Zapadac]

Well, Armstrong...levees do nothing to protect from wind. In Hurricanes, everyone knows that water is the main problem. Katrina had a Category Five storm surge, and came over the levees behind the Entergy plant and Hayne Blvd.

[armstrongw5]

I'm really glad that John Goodman is voicing a layperson's perspective on levee systems. This should raise a huge red flag to all Americans, although I'm sure his years of experience on Rosanne and playing King Ralph probably taught him a lot about levee construction. Believe the opposite of any movement spearheaded by an actor and you'll be doing yourself a service.

[VincenzoP81]

Well then don't listen to Mr Goodman. Listen to the many independent experts and scientists worldwide that assert that this "disaster" was man-made.

[kcNOlady]

Thank you, John, on behalf of New Orleans, and New Orleanians everywhere.

[JASPER72666]

John,

love ya, BUT what about your REAL hometown of St Louis back in 93?

And I heard your place OUTSIDE N'awlins was damaged by the STORM, NOT by the levee break!

[HoppinHill]

The video is about the failure of the federally built levees. Experts nationwide agree had the levees been built as Congress authorized, they would have held against Katrina's surge. The failed response is an entirely separate issue.

[wwwmmcom]

thanks, John!

[Search4Truth]

The Federal government:

Economics - The Tech Stock crash of 2000. Billions of dollars lost by working class Americans.

Security - Thousands of innocents killed on 911 by terrorists.

Immigration - 12 million illegal aliens in this country.

Katrina -- America's worst engineering disaster. 200,000 homes lost. 1,500 lives lost. The damage in terms of the humanity, incalculable.

I am not sure who I should fear most, terrorists or the federal government.

[Jagotje]

OVER THE LINE!

[ArielMontage]

To Truthiness231 -- Goodman's home in New Orleans was severely damaged by the flood caused by faulty U.S. Army Corps of Engineers levees.

[martwide]

Kudos to John G and levees(dot)org. So the nonpartisan, grassroots levees(dot)org is smeared by someone who presumes to speak for the Lord? How surprising. Anyone who dares to criticize the government's response to anything is labelled as a "hate America" group. Hey - let's send the Bush twins to Iraq and require Army Corps of Engineers managers to live next to the Industrial Canal in N.O. Maybe then we'd see some serious change in direction.

[Truthiness231]

Not to detract from the truly important issue at hand, but what does John Goodman have to do with levees?

[iching64]

He lives in New Orleans. He's a person people recognize.

[iching64]

As could be predicted, the right wing nuts and Bush administration hit team is trying to drown out this simple patriotic message:

The levee system in the US is in bad shape and needs serious attention and repair.

It's funny to see the Bush-ites (not all that different from Sodomites by the way) jump in the try to trash this fine community-based organization.

It's patriotic to defend the country as Levees is doing. It's treason to support lawless behavior on the part of the government.

[gregg2323]

Just returned from another great Jazz-fest this past weekend. Friday we saw five inches of rain in a few hours, the Army Corps pumps failed!

[sandycats99]

Since when is being "leftist" a crime in the U.S.of A.? Not that LeveesOrg is, but "The" LawofTheLord appears to be hell-bent on some fairly radical political extremism themselves by isolating "leftists" as somehow nefarious and America-hating. Smearing "leftists" that way is anti-freedom and anti-American, IMO.

Congratulations to LeveesOrg on a fantastic awareness-raising program, BTW.

[HoppinHill]

On behalf of LeveesOrg's nearly 13,000 supporters nationwide, Thank you, because YOU made it happen!

Sandy

[HoppinHill]

Dear LawoftheLord,

LeveesOrg is a nonpartisan nonsectarian grassroots group. Dozens upon dozens of organizations (and apparently NOVFP,too) have placed badges on their homepages thereby referring visitors to our site. This is a free country and anyone is free to do this, and that is the extent of our "relationship."

Sandy Rosenthal

[TheLawOfTheLord]

You are of course correct. This is a free country. And good men are fighting and dying this day to keep it that way. Perhaps you should be telling that to New Orleans Voices for Peace who are fighting against those good men.

I have revealed what I felt compelled to and have nothing more to say. Readers can decide accordingly based on what has been presented.

God bless America. And God bless the fighting men who keep her free.

[aikido7]

Hmmm.... Haven't I heard the term "law of the Lord" before? Was it Tim McVeigh? Or David Koresh? Or maybe it was a "creationist"?

Whose law and whose Lord?

[zezt]

well the 'fighting men' are naive sheep to the slaughter . 'fighting' for a LIE spun by the elite which ISN'T meant for freedom. In fact the exact opposite!

errr ever wondered why the ELITE dont 'fight' or send THEIR kids to 'fight'? No, they send kids from undre-privileged neighbourhoods to fight their evil corporate wars TheLawoftheLord

[revo40]

Hi zezt, I just read your comment and I agree with you 100%!!

[nolatuti]

Yes, God bless America and God bless New Orleans and its citizens who, the last time I checked are still a part of America. And God bless LeveesOrg who are fighting for the worthy cause of protecting all Americans who rely on levees. They are not obligated to tell New Orleans Voices for Peace anything, that's not their purpose or cause. They have enough to do just raising awareness for the need for better levees. One cause at a time please.

[BSAlert]

Can you leave god out of it? We are talking science here. It was probably people of "faith" who thought the levees would hold in lieu of facts which indicated they wouldn't.

[youtubswaney]

People, get real. Who cares who they're affiliated with. We're talking levees here, not terrorists.What happened to New Orleans is real and it can happen anywhere if citizens turn a blind eye.Look where that got us. We need to hold everyone accountable. If that means the corp, the mayor, the citizens, then so be it. It's nearly 2 years since Katrina still the levees are not ok. We need to stand up & be protected. thanks John for standing up for our town and yours!!

[mewelde]

Please help-I still can't go back home to N.O.(there is no available housing)-I want to go HOME-the govt. says they sent all this money but we relly have not gotten it-Thanks to all the volenteers(what would we do without ya'll)-Please continue to come down and help.

[usc5524]

Thanks John. I don't live in NO but my heart still goes out to everyone there.Tragically nothing is going to happen until this administration is gone from office.

[TheLawOfTheLord]

LeveesOrg is associated with the radical left organization "New Orleans Voices for Peace". NOVFP promotes Cindy Sheehan who has said that terrorists are "freedom fighters" and that "America is not worth dying for", among other slanders.

No thanks. My son is fighting in the war against terror that these radical leftists want us to lose. Find some other org to support other than one that aligns itself with those who hate America and want us to lose this war against terrorism.

[QZ53]

You have no idea what you are talking about!!! You can't possibly believe that this levee organization is a radical leftist organization...you obviously didn't live in the Ninth Ward or Lakeview..get your head out of the sand. The government failed New Orleans and you could be next!!

[TheLawOfTheLord]

LeveesOrg is ASSOCIATED with the radical left organization "New Orleans Voices for Peace". NOVFP promotes Cindy Sheehan who has said that terrorists are "freedom fighters" and that "America is not worth dying for", among other slanders.

[TheLawOfTheLord]

From LeveesOrg Web Tools page: Referral Scoreboard uproar (754) timsq (382) New Orleans Voices For Peace (339) FriendsOfNewOrleans(dot)org (334) MMAmoss (330) nolapoet (300) Karen (285) Sophmom (275) (198) BuildBackNewOrleans(dot)com (185)

[VincenzoP81]

This doesn't mean they are associated with New Orleans voices for peace, it just means that that group referred the LeveesOrg website to 339 people.

Jeeze!~

[TheLawOfTheLord]

We'll let the readers decide if they want to support an organization that has any kind of relationship with an organization that gives a voice to people like Cindy Sheehan, and others who hate America and want us to lose this war. Sheehan quote: "We really need to stop the imperialist tendencies of countries like the United States and Great Britain".

I encourage everyone to view the New Orleans Voices for Peace web site and see what kind of people LeveesOrg has decided to work with.

[HoppinHill]

I am executive director of LeveesOrg and I have never heard of Voices for Peace. So I went to their website and found that Voices for Peace has placed a badge to our website on their homepage. Just to be clear, LeveesOrg is a non partisan non sectarian grassroots group.

Sandy Rosenthal

New Orleans resident

[TheLawOfTheLord]

I have an e-mail from Sandy@levees(dot)org stating that they are very familiar with NOVFP. Is that your e-mail? I've also posted the "Web Tools" page from your web site proudly displaying the number of referrals you have received from your relationship with NOVFP.

Readers should decide if LeveesOrg's relationship with a radical leftist organization like NOVFP, that hates America and wants us to lose this war against terrorism, makes them the kind organization they want to support.

[lwoodbluz]

Isn't "the law of the lord" all about compassion for fellow man? How did such compassion become a leftist idea in the first place? I am sick and tired of people using religion as a mantle and then spewing the most hateful crap at anyone who disagrees with them. This goes for fundamentalists of all religions.

[iching64]

Here's the Law of the Lord:

"Whatsover you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

Pretty simple.

I don't recall Jesus buying $10,000 tables at Roman orgies (the ancient equivilant of Republican fund raising dinners.)

At this point, the handful of people who support Bush and his posse of crooks are either morons or congentital white collar criminals who are glad one of their own is in the White House.

[MrPyro321]

I hate to tell you mate but the corruption and failure in New Orleans was under democratic leadership. The failed response was 2/3 our mayor and our gov. both who are democrats.

[raymonty]

"We really need to stop the imperialist tendencies of countries like the United States and Great Britain".

...what's wrong with that, you ignoramus?

[NOLAFOREVER]

Everyone agrees the levees are the responsibility of the federally funded Army Corp. Of Engrs! They should be held accountable for the condition & failure of the levees! Thanks to Sandy for forming Levees dot org! Thanks to John for loving NOLA & it's people! Everyone please join them in demanding Category 5 Levees, coastal restoration & accountability of Army Corp. Of Engrs. in the failure of the levees!! Don't forget New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast... We still need your help!!

[Search4Truth]

I was there in Lakeview near the corner of Harrison and Canal for the entire event. I can tell you first hand that it was a mild hurricane. Except for one apparent tornado, the winds were not bad. After the hurricane was over I went outside to survey the damage. I remember seeing only a few trees down and thinking that things would be back to normal in a week. That's when I saw the wave of water coming down the street. The situation went downhill fast from there.

[gaelicgirl62]

I am sorry for what you lost. I grew up in Mid City close to City Park and remember going to Harrison Snoball stand lots of times... I pray for you...

[Search4Truth]

gaelicgirl62 - Bless you for your prayers. We all need them, desperately. The scope of the suffering caused by the depraved indifference and criminal incompetence of the Army Corps of Engineers is beyond description.

[Zapadac]

Levees don't protect from wind. Katrina had a Category 5 storm surge. The levees protect against flooding, not wind. Also, the wind blasted the paint off my friend's house, in Mid City. It was strong enough.

[Search4Truth]

The New Orleans that I knew and loved is gone for ever. What has been left in its place is a devastated city that resembles a third world country.

When Islamic terrorists killed thousands of Americans, we made them pay. When the the Federal government's Army Corps of Engineers kills thousands of Americans, we pay them. What is wrong with this picture?

[gaelicgirl62]

Here, here! I agree that the feds ought to pay up for the tragic mistake that ripped apart so many lives... The Corps failed New Orleans and the surrounding area. Why aren't they made to face the music and fix their mistake? It just isn't right...

[70124ever]

Thanks, John and levees org for your work. Trying to have a life in this city I love gets harder every day. And it should not be. The Army Corps failed us

[QZ53]

I agree with you...it gets harder every day to watch the city struggle. No one has been held accountable. The Corp just ignores the fact that we are still in a very precarious state.

[70124ever]

you don't think they care, do you?

[Zapadac]

The thing that I dont agree with on the leveesorg site is the claim that Katrina missed New Orleans and the claim that the winds were Category 1. The winds were Cat 3 in eastern New Orleans, but everyone familiar with hurricanes knows that it's the storm surge that causes most damage, not wind. Katrina had a 18-20 foot Cat 5 surge that came over the levee on Hayne Blvd. Other floodwalls were topped. See the photos at tulane dot edu/~sanelson/Katrina/Katrina%­20Images/DCP_3121.JPG

[gaelicgirl62]

I DO know what it means to miss New Orleans- was born and raised there until 2005. Now my mom lives in Louisiana, my daughter lives in Georgia and I now live in Washington state close to my brother! I miss New Orleans for so many reasons but have accepted my new place of residence here. I miss my family, my friends, the food and culture that was unique to my city!! But God bless John Goodman. I am a member of Levees dot org. I may live someplace else now but New Orleans will always be MY HOME.

[nolabig1]

This VIEDO and post should be seen by everyone in USA because we all live within 20 miles of levees systems its just a matter of whos next, NOLA LIVES,DO YOU NO WHAT IT MEANS TO MISS NEW ORLEANS?

[4nola27]

Thank you, Nolabig1, you are correct"everyone needs to see this" how do we accomplish that?

I willing to work on that project.

[dirtearth]

I love John Goodman. He seems like a genuine, good, human being. He looks like he has lost a decent bit of weight lately as well which is great. Keep it up !

[librarybot]

thanks John and levees dot org! being someone going through this i can honestly say i wouldn't want this to happen to my worst enemy.

[shanny99]

Thank you so much Mr. Goodman and Levees-dot-org! As a former Lakeview resident and victim of the Army corp of Engineers, I know all too well the dangers of a poorly constructed & maintained levee system. We left many friends behind in New Orleans (and our hearts) and pray daily that this never happens again here, or anywhere else. God Bless!

[beinola]

Thanks John G.

[tlavezzi]

The hubby and I tried for 10 years to move to NOLA. We are finally here- NOLA is in our hearts and we could never live elsewhere. We need more people to stand up for this city, and say we won't tolerate being shoved aside. NOLA is HERITAGE

[R6lark1963]

An important message from a good man.

[Standaman2009]

There are levees all over America. We can't let this happen again!

[winoChick78]

Thanks John!

[juliebob3]

John Goodman, New Orleans loves you. Keep fighting. We will too.

[patdoyle222]

Thank you John Goodman; the levee breaks caused the biggest disaster in the United States, affecting more people and more land than any other. Everyone will be working for at least 20 years to rebuild this great city, but New Orleans is made up of hard working, strong people, we can do it.

[pantherrd]

A video that should be watched by the nation. We're all at risk of it happening again in numerous areas.

[rbeatma]

The levee breaks after Katrina caused all the flooding in New Orleans. Not the hurricane.

[blogometer]

Thank you Mr. Goodman for your help with this imporant message. Truly heartbreaking to live under a goverment that has no pride in the accomplishments of American civil engineering.

[mazieboo]

Thank you and God Bless You, Jawn! (that's New Orleanian/St.Bernardian for John)

[Speckulator]

Thanks John, the US Army Corps of Engineers screwed up the levees and floodwalls, no doubt about it.

[sandycats99]

There are many cities around the world situated below sea level and doing just fine. The only difference is that their governments give enough of a a damn about their citizens to protect them with proper levees. New Orleans and environs citizens deserve no less.

[wantaplayfore]

Lets make it work

[themuse420]

thanks John!

[Reedlette]

Make Levees - Not War!

[QZ53]

It won't take much for the fragile levee system to breach again! Please help us spread the word. Thanks to everyone who "gets" what happened down here!

[norris47williams]

Never forget that the floodwall that failed, flooding huge portions of the city that had NEVER before flooded, even in stronger storms, failed because of improper design by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. This could happen anywhere at anytime. It happened in New Orleans the day AFTER the storm struck, on a "perfect" day--no wind, no rain.

[Katie890]

This is such an important issue for our lifetime. Let's not let another Katrina happen--lets focus on fixing the levees and keep rebuilding New Orleans!

[benb60]

The levees in New Orleans were built by the federal government, not by us locals. You tell 'em, John! We've been screaming at the feds about our bad levees since I was born in 1960, and they just ignored us. John's the man!

[meglousteau]

yeah you rite, John!

[NancyKay]

Don't we??