Washington D.C. - Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser says he's encouraged he's bringing the corps of engineers around to his way to thinking on storm protection.
A lot of people who live south of Oakville think they'll be hit with higher insurance rates, lower property values and more risk for flooding if a planned floodgate is built across Highway 23.
Wednesday, Nungesser was in Washington D.C. meeting with Senator David Vitter and the Army Corps to express those concerns. Instead of the gate, he'd like to see the Corps raise eight miles of non federal levee from Oakville to La Reussite providing hundred year storm protection to more residents. He says he came away from the meeting,with a time frame to make it happen.
“For the first time in the last week we've been able to get the Corps to give us an option, both by supporting us and giving us the data and working through the fast process,” said Nungesser.
Senator Vitter says the Corps is on board with the plan.
“The good news in Plaquemines Parish we now have a concrete plan in place that doesn't require congressional action, to protect the Jesuit Bend area, to build that area up with state and local support,” Vitter said.
Nungesser says 100 year storm protection in south Plaquemines will require a different coastal plan because levees there are not practical.
