Scalise: 100-year Flood Protection Deadline Arrives, Flood Protection for Northshore Still Needed

Statement

Congressman Steve Scalise today released the following statement as the Corps' June 1, 2011, deadline for implementing 100-year flood protection for the Southshore of Lake Pontchartrain arrived.

"While much has been accomplished in the last five years, much more work remains to be done in order to achieve 100-year flood protection for the Southshore while also increasing flood protection for the Northshore," Scalise said. "Thousands of families along the Northshore still do not have adequate flood protection, and the Corps of Engineers must come to the table to work towards stronger flood protection for both sides of the Lake, and that should include barrier protection that prevents storm surge from entering Lake Pontchartrain.

"In addition to ensuring adequate flood protection, I will also continue fighting to restore our coast. Coastal restoration is vital to the protection of Gulf ecosystems, environments, and communities and we must restore America's wetlands that have eroded while re-establishing this barrier to weaken future storms and protect our communities from flooding."

Scalise has pushed for comprehensive hurricane and flood protection as well as coastal restoration efforts since being elected to Congress, including:

* Barrier protection at the Rigolets and Chef Menteur passes to prevent storm surge from entering Lake Pontchartrain; and
* Levee protection and improved drainage for Slidell and the Northshore; and
* Enhanced coastal restoration efforts funded by damages paid by BP due to the Gulf oil spill, and immediate sharing of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues, to rebuild the damage done by coastal erosion and protect us against future storms.

Source