Just a quick video with information that most of the readers of this blog already know. I’m only posting it because I want to give a generalized shout-out to my main man Ivor Von Heerden at LSU. Also, check the book. And Ivor, if you ever read this, thanks for everything. Please, for the sake of all of us, keep up the good work. Also, go to www.leveeland.com, pick out anything you want and I will drive it up to Baton Rouge and give it to you personally.
The link included didn’t work for me. I got there via http://leveeland.com/blog/…and I’m sure glad I stopped by. More later….
Thanks for sharing. I share your admiration of Von Heerden as does my engineer husband.
I’m not a particular fan of Ivor, who seems to me to be a sensationalist, lacking backup for his loud opinions.
elaborate?
I’m not sure what you mean by “elaborate”, or even if it was directed at me.
But;
Have you seen his post Katrina statements where he “knew”, ‘in advance’ there was going to be massive destruction?
Have you heard of his announcement (proved false) the the sheet pile along the 17th street canal were shorter that specified?
Both of these instances (and others) have lead me to believe he is less that cautious in stating his opinions for the press.
In the short time I looked I couldn’t find other instances, but just getting in front of a camera is not my touchstone for credibility.
Everybody, even Bush, “knew.” Ivor worked on the Hurricane Pam project, how could he not have known? Bums in the street “knew.”
Not sure what you are driving at here but he certainly has more credentials than getting in front of a camera and spouting off opinions. He has been one of the leading voices in rallying people to come to New Orleans and rebuild and has done worlds to help the region.
The way the story has been mostly kept out of mainstream media in the last two years perhaps you are mistaking his sensationalism for panic.
I am also of the opinion that Professor Van Heerden is all puffed up. What did he “know”? That this city near the coast was vulnerable? Okay, no prescience there. He predicted tens of thousands of deaths, when in fact there were far less. He pronounced shorter-than-specified sheet piles were the cause of the 17th Street failure–wrong again. And he continues to hawk his book and give talks as if he is an experienced engineer when in fact he has NEVER designed or worked on the design of any kind of hurricane or flood protection project. Even his colleagues at LSU had to call him to the carpet for overstating his credentials because he is not an engineer at all–he’s a geologist. I’ve written more here:
http://timsnamelessblog.blogspot.com/2006/06/geologist.html
We have huge problems here. We face major challenges in nature, engineering and funding. More than ever we need to educate and inform ourselves and the rest of the country about what the risks are and what can (or can’t) be done to protect our community. I do not think any of those needs are filled by a self-promoting geologist.
Peace,
Tim