Heath Jones

Their job was to help bring all the products of America's burgeoning breadbasket down to the port of New Orleans and out to the rest of the world. And by the late 1920s, the Corps was also drafted into building systems to fight floods.

And here is how the system is set up. If a local community like South Lafourche finds itself facing repeated flooding, they can lobby Congress to have the Corps come in and solve it. And then the Corps has to decide, well, does it make economic sense to protect this community?

And here is how the system is set up. If a local community like South Lafourche finds itself facing repeated flooding, they can lobby Congress to have the Corps come in and solve it. And then the Corps has to decide, well, does it make economic sense to protect this community?

And here is how the system is set up. If a local community like South Lafourche finds itself facing repeated flooding, they can lobby Congress to have the Corps come in and solve it. And then the Corps has to decide, well, does it make economic sense to protect this community?

Harsh, but building flood infrastructure can get really expensive, and communities around the country are competing for these resources.

Harsh, but building flood infrastructure can get really expensive, and communities around the country are competing for these resources.

Harsh, but building flood infrastructure can get really expensive, and communities around the country are competing for these resources.

Because when a major disaster strikes, some huge portion of the costs will fall to the federal government. That could be in the form of temporary housing or food for people who have been displaced, or money to repair basic infrastructure like the power grid or drinking water supply.

Because when a major disaster strikes, some huge portion of the costs will fall to the federal government. That could be in the form of temporary housing or food for people who have been displaced, or money to repair basic infrastructure like the power grid or drinking water supply.

Because when a major disaster strikes, some huge portion of the costs will fall to the federal government. That could be in the form of temporary housing or food for people who have been displaced, or money to repair basic infrastructure like the power grid or drinking water supply.

Or it could come in the form of federal flood insurance, which often pays out over a billion dollars in claims a year.

Or it could come in the form of federal flood insurance, which often pays out over a billion dollars in claims a year.

Or it could come in the form of federal flood insurance, which often pays out over a billion dollars in claims a year.

They do this, Heath explains, by conducting a sort of economic census. They'll take a place like Wendell's community in South Lafourche and tally up the number of structures. First, all the homes.

They do this, Heath explains, by conducting a sort of economic census. They'll take a place like Wendell's community in South Lafourche and tally up the number of structures. First, all the homes.

They do this, Heath explains, by conducting a sort of economic census. They'll take a place like Wendell's community in South Lafourche and tally up the number of structures. First, all the homes.

If it's a rural area with low population density, they might suggest elevating individual buildings.

If it's a rural area with low population density, they might suggest elevating individual buildings.

If it's a rural area with low population density, they might suggest elevating individual buildings.

But if the value of homes and businesses is high enough, they may propose building something bigger, like a series of levees.