18 Quotes by Al Naomi

The point is to eliminate that storm-surge threat with one of these plans. The philosophy of what we do during a hurricane would change. We could spend more time protecting our homes and less time trying to get out of the city in these desperate evacuations.

We're going to look at both alternatives and maybe some other alternatives too while we're at it to see what the best way is to execute that protection.

If we get funded to the level (Dutch engineers) get funded and have the national backing they have, we're going to do some fantastic things. There's nothing magical about what they do.

I can't go above it by law. That's what I am authorized to do. Anything above that means I have to spend money that Congress specifically authorizes for that purpose. Only then we can go build it. It's not simple.

We just have to define the risk and the probability of that actually happening.

We can't even get in there to have a chance to look at that and see the condition of the infrastructure.

There's no upper limit to category-5, so we're looking at the highest level, the mid-range level, and lower level, maybe like a Katrina-type storm.

The system is in great shape, but the levees are sinking. If we don't get the money fast enough to raise them, then we can't stay ahead of the settlement. The problem is the federal funds have dried up.

As I remember it the worst of the storm had passed when we got word the floodwall had collapsed. It could have been when we were experiencing westerly winds in the aftermath of the storm, which would have been pushing water against it.