SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

August 8, 2011

Nicole Hobson-Morris Executive Director Louisiana State Office of Historic Preservation 1051 North Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Dear Ms. Hobson-Morris, I am writing as a Professor of Geology from Tulane University in support for placing sites where two of the most significant levee breaches occurred in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina on August 29th, 2005 on the National Register of Historic Places. These levee breaches at the 17th Canal and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) are now ingrained as a part of the history of the city of New Orleans, and the United States. The short term results included flooding about 80% of the city, causing the deaths of over 1500 people, and causing unprecedented economic damage to both the city and the University. The disaster was the worst in U.S. history in terms of economic damage and would not have occurred had the levees not failed. Since November 5, 2005, I have led over 250 groups from all over the country and from abroad have who have visited New Orleans seeking to learn from the mistakes made in levee engineering. These groups include high school and college students, government officials, learned society convention attendees, and volunteer groups. The levee breaches sites on the INHC and 17th ST. Canals are significant stops on the field trips I have led for these groups. All participants have expressed their gratitude in obtaining factual information on what happened during the Katrina event. A field trip guidebook and other information can be found on my website concerning the geology of the Katrina disaster at http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/Katrina/index.html. I teach two courses at Tulane, both of which involve field trips to the levee breach sites. My course on natural disasters, EENS 2040 http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/geol204/index.html, includes a field trip to the sites and exercises that help students understand the various scientific, engineering, cultural and sociological aspects of natural disasters, using the Katrina event as example. My course offered to incoming freshman, TIDE-1220 New Orleans and Hurricanes, Past, Present and Future http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/New_Orleans_and_Hurricanes/index.htm, also includes the field trip and discusses other aspects of New Orleans and Hurricanes. Thus, the levee breach sites are invaluable to me as an educator and to the groups I have led as a learning experience. Designating the levee breach sites on the National Historic Register of Historic Places will ensure that the history of this devastating event will be preserved in the memory of the entire community of New Orleans, as well as throughout the world. Because of the historic significance of the levee breach sites to the world community, I take this opportunity to support the placement these sites on the National
101 Blessey Hall, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118-5698 tel 504.865.5198 fax 504.865.5199 http://tulane.edu/sse/eens/

Registry of Historic Places. The levee breaches marked an important point in history that must be remembered. The placement of these sites on the National Historic Registry will ensure that their significance is not forgotten. If you have any questions or require further information regarding my support for this initiative, please feel free to contact me. Sincerely,

Stephen A. Nelson Ph.D. Chair, Dept. Earth & Environmental Sciences

101 Blessey Hall, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118-5698 tel 504.865.5198 fax 504.865.5199 http://tulane.edu/sse/eens/