Common Sense And The " Corps "

Greetings From New Orleans ,
This years record level Spring flood , I think has caused every one both directly and for that matter indirectly related to the Mississippi River System and the local New Orleans marine industry to pause and reflect on what was done right , what was done wrong and what could be improved upon with regards to dealing with this Spring flood !
I think that for the most part , the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers has done a reasonably good job with what they are charged to do , but having said that is there NOT always room for improvement , especially with ANY goverment agency ??
Lets just take a look at the facts , as we know them , and YOU decide if the Corps acted in a judicious and timely manner with regards to this years Spring time flood !! Does the Corps of Engineers not have the resources such as money , people , engineers , equipment , authority and overall expertise to make and take the appropriate decisions and actions to safe gard and maintain this countries water way system ? Well , yes , of course they do and with out doube they continue to flex that muscle literally every day of the year !
Well then , and with all due respect , can anyone answer to me and others that actually do work in this particular marine environment , what were the motives and reasons why the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers reacted to this years Spring flood in the manner they did ?? It appers to many of us that work in this environment that the Corps of Engineers reacted to this Spring Flood in what we consider an " UNTIMLY " fashion ! We are all in agreement that the Corps has at its disposal ALL the above mentioned assets , including the ability to predict the out come of record snow fall and accompaining record rain fall , so then WHY did they not open the Spillways sooner and if need be NOT bolw the levee below Cairo in three separate locations ??
Now , I am not " The Sharpest Tool In The Shed " , but I like many others DO have a lick of common sense and WE have been able to survive out here for longer that many are literall alive !
So , having said that would the following statements NOT be true ??
No. 1 - If the Corps Of Engineers knew that it would be a record Spring Flood , would it NOT make sense to open the Spillways sooner and possibly just even at a trickle so as to avoid last minute torrnetial flooding in the low lying areas that these same Spillway waters effected ?? Furthermore , if these Spillways were opened sooner and even at a triclke , just possible mass evacuation and destruction from these same flood water could have been prevented ! Does this NOT make sense ??
No. 2 - If the Corps Of Engineers knew that it would be a record Spring Flood , would it NOT make sense to open the Spillways sooner to avoid blowing three huge and gaping holes in the levee below Cairo , and causing wide spread flooding in south eastern Missouri ?? Does this not make sense ??
No. 3 - If the Corps Of Engineers knew that it would be a record Spring Flood , would it NOT make sense to open the Spillways sooner to avoid increasing the RISK that ALL mariners must take when transiting on the Mississippi River ? At least three times the Upper Baton Rouge Hwy. Bridge was hit by south bound lines tows , even with tug boat assistance , and consequently a number of barges were sunk and the Baton Rouge harbor was closed ! Does this NOT make sense ??
No. 4 - If the Corps Of Engineers knew that it would be a record Spring Flood , would it NOT make sense to open the Spillways sooner so as to avoid the tremendous monetary expense to ALL facets of the marine industry ?? Due to the extreme high water , there were a number of major oil terminals and other petro chemial terminals that were forced to close down and consequently lay off their employees ! Ships were diverted to other ports of call , tow boat companies were forced to either limit the size of their tows or place two boats on a tow that would normally only require one ! Tug boats were ALL in short supply because many were required to push on ships moored at their berths becasue the torrential currents were breaking the ships away from the docks ! ALL this because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decided to NOT open the Spillways sooner and to allow the rising river water to start a slow and contineous drain BEFORE overall marine conditions reached near catostrophicc levels ! Does this make ANY sense ??
No. 5 - If the Corps Of Engineers knew that it would be a record Spring Flood , would it NOT make sense to open the Spillways sooner if for no other reason than to NOT put ALL the cities , towns and municipalities at any additional risk from levee breaks and massive flooding ?? Does this NOT make sense ?? You tell me ! I am like a few others that actually work out here and have seen and experienced what Mother Nature can throw at us and Not a bean counter in a Corps Of Engineers office !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70