'We are moving forward'

0 Comments | USA TODAY, December, 2005 | by Kathleen Blanco and Ray Nagin

Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.

The impact on Louisiana is staggering -- more than 1,071 lives lost, nearly 700,000 people displaced, about $39 billion in flood and surge damage, some 205,000 homes and 18,750 businesses destroyed. The storm decimated more homes and registered more losses than any other disaster we have known. Not surprisingly, the overwhelming share of the damage was in metropolitan New Orleans.

Rebounding from such a blow takes monumental resources and deserves a thorough process to develop and create rebuilding plans. Guided by the leading planners and designers in the country, the city and state are capturing the best ideas and taking them to the people. Presented with the latest information on flood elevations,...