New Orleans - When Air Force One arrives in New Orleans later this week, President Barack Obama will de-plane to high expectations from residents still concerned about hurricane protection.
This will be Obama's first visit to the city since winning the White House. Fred Yoder, Vice President of the Lakeview Civic Improvement Association said that even though progress has been made in building better flood protection since Katrina, more has to be done and federal dollars will be required.
Yoder said if he were afforded a few minutes with Obama he would tell him, "We're only part of the way there, we've got a long way to go and we need his help."
Sandy Rosenthal, founder of Levees.Org said she has written to Senator Mary Landrieu in hopes of getting an audience with Obama. She said the pumps installed along area outfall canals are deficient and she does not believe they will withstand a big storm.
Rosenthal said Obama's help is also needed to push Congress to appropriate funds for the pump-to-the-river project. That project would send some storm waters to the Mississippi instead of to Lake Pontchartrain.
Residents are also concerned that not enough is being done to rebuild the fragile coastline which is the first defense against storm surges.
