Army Corps tours flood-prone areas in Norfolk

Posted to: Environment News Norfolk
Login or register to post comments

By Stacy Parker
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 9, 2011

The city on Wednesday led representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers and local legislators' offices on a bus tour of flood-prone areas.

Ohio Creek, the Hague, Larchmont, Loch Haven, Pretty Lake and Mason Creek were highlighted.

"We saw low-lying areas and some of the difficulties the city is facing with water moving out of the area because of high tide," said Peter C. Luisa, the Army Corps of Engineers' deputy for the north Atlantic region.

He called the tour a fact-finding mission. The corps would need authority from Congress to begin a comprehensive study.

Norfolk's director of public works, John Keifer, cited potential solutions including flood gates and pump stations to deal with rising tides and weather events that threaten Norfolk's residential, industrial and maritime properties.

"We're going to need some federal help," Keifer said.

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

Between the lines

Submitted by Mytwocents on Fri, 12/09/2011 at 3:23 am.

"The corps would need authority from Congress
to begin a comprehensive study."

Translation: won't be happening...we don't have
any money.

I live in Freemason. It

Submitted by nelson on Fri, 12/09/2011 at 12:11 am.

I live in Freemason. It floods. I don't want federal help. It is not the federal government's obligation to make every flood-potential area habitable. If they subsidize work, what happens when we flood anyway? The newly entitled will blame the feds. Flood-protected property is not a right. Property investment is a risk which, as an owner, you alone are responsible for. Purchase insurance privately if you're concerned. If the risk is too great for you, go elsewhere. Don't cry to the federal government. Those fools can't even balance their own books.