Corps Says Restoring Levees to Pre-Katrina Strength Would Cost $1.6 Billion
The Army's Chief of Engineers, Lt. Gen. Carl A. Strock, says that rebuilding New Orleans levees to their pre-Hurricane Katrina strength would cost about $1.6 billion. The Corps of Engineers is certain it can reconstruct the levees to withstand a Level 3 hurricane by next June 1, in advance of the 2006 hurricane season, Strock says.
Appearing before the House energy and water appropriations subcommittee on Sept. 28, Strock also said that a preliminary Corps estimate shows that upgrading the levee protection to guard against a Level 5 storm would cost an additional $3 billion to $3.5 billion, beyond the $1.6 billion needed to get levees back to a Level 3 strength.