The National Trust has been assessing the damage that Gustav and Ike inflicted on historic structures in Galveston and elsewhere (even as far north as Plano, Illinois). More upsetting is this news from New Orleans:
The Trust also reports increased pressure from the Nagin administration in New Orleans to demolish historic properties damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, the mayor has suspended review of historic structures by the Neighborhood Conservation District Committee (NCDC), a citizens’ group formed to ensure that salvageable historic properties are preserved. The mayor argued that review might “hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency.” The Trust notes that properties judged to be in imminent danger of collapse are already exempt from NCDC review.
At least it looks as though Mayor Nagin has had second thoughts about his order, although from this report I can’t tell whether the structures already condemned under that order will get a reprieve.
(Via the AHA Today blog.)
