Future Storms, Global Warming Could Devastate Louisiana Coast

Aug. 28, 2008— -- Three years ago, images of immense destruction and poverty in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward filled the television screens of Americans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

Since then, recovery has been slow -- too slow, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal told ABC News' Bob Woodruff.

"I think the recovery -- not only in the Ninth Ward but in the city -- is not where it should be three years after the storm," Jindal said.

Watch the story on "Focus Earth" Saturday, Aug. 30, on Discovery's Planet Green network.

Now, Jindal and others in the area are keeping a close watch on Tropical Storm Gustav, which is barreling in their direction. Though the storm's path hasn't been confirmed, it is expected to turn into a Category 3 hurricane and hit the Gulf Coast sometime Sunday.

Jindal has already declared a state of emergency, and put 3,000 National Guard troops on alert, and New Orleans will issue a mandatory evacuation of the city if a Category 3 storm comes within 60 hours.

All this for a city that's still reeling from Katrina.

Many area residents are blaming city and state officials for stalling the process, even as they hear about disaster relief plans like the $10.3 billion Road Home Katrina recovery program funded by the federal government.

"I think the challenge that has gotten people so frustrated is they hear of all these great things, they hear of the federal government saying we've approved over $100 billion," Jindal said, "but they're saying, 'When are we gonna see it on our block? When will we see that police station, that fire station, that school? When will we see it in our bank accounts?'"

But there has been some progress, Jindal continued, thanks to the billions of dollars spent on levee reconstruction.

"And the reason I start there is because people have to be safe before they'll come back," he said.

Despite all the money that has poured into the state for rebuilding the levees and protecting the city from future hurricanes, Jindal said it is just a drop in the bucket considering the city is only prepared for a Category 3 storm.

"We still don't see a commitment to Category 5 protection -- truly comprehensive hurricane and flood protection," he said. "The second thing that's missing from this is a deep commitment not only to flood and hurricane protection but coastal restoration. Building levees alone is like building a great wall to stop the ocean. It doesn't work."

Louisiana's 15,000 square miles of coastal wetlands traditionally act as natural buffers from storm surges. For centuries, the fresh floodwaters of the Mississippi River replenished the wetlands with sediment, building them up and flushing out the saltwater blown in by hurricanes.