Rebuilding New Orleans will cost us Billions after Hurricane Katrina. How will we go about such a massive effort to prevent the future destruction in a repeat Category Hurricane V event? I would like to hereby float the concept of building a floating city in part of New Orleans, surely this is not a new idea and there are others I assume who have also been thinking here. We can re-enforce the 350-mile Levee system, use it as the breakwater point and float the below water level areas of New Orleans on a floating city platform. With our new innovations in Flexible Concrete Mixes, which are 500 times stronger than typical materials, it is now possible. A Category V Hurricane; no problem even 35-foot storm surges would not sink the New City of New Orleans, a risky venture? Not nearly as risky as rolling the dice again and rebuilding a city, which is built under the current water level. Who is to say that level may not rise or the Mississippi over flow? It is not like either has never happened or will not happen again.

Floating Airport concepts are already being used along with runway extension, where the runway and taxiways go for miles out into the ocean. Floating Airport Concepts and Ports will be a future eventuality simply due to the cost of land in many places by the ocean.

http://www.floatinc.com/Floatport.html

http://www.jsce-int.org/Publication/CivilEng/2000/realizing.pdf

http://www.mlit.go.jp/english/maritime/mega_float.html

http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/01/07/wo_schrope072501.asp

We already have floating hospitals, aircraft carriers and giant cruise ships. The larger of them can handle a killer Rogue Wave, a Hurricane or even a Super-Typhoon and in fact they have. A floating city with less profile has a much better chance of handling such a super storm.

Is a floating city a viable option for the below sea level areas of New Orleans? Indeed it is and it makes a lot of sense. It saves money on upgrading a Levee System which need a complete overhaul, it protects the city from flooding, it allows for a better and larger port with greater services and it assists in the upgrading of the distribution system of our civilization. It is an option, a good one, a viable one and one we must not over look as we look out for what is best for our populations who count on us to protect them. We should be thinking here as we float all our options.