The Christian Science Monitor today is asking the question of Galveston: After Ike, to rebuild or not?
The same question was asked after Hurricane Katrina damaged New Orleans. We all know howNew Orleans responded!
New Orleans was a vital tourist Mecca, the birthplace of jazz (a true American art form), the headquarters for Mardi Gras and a very popular tourist location. There was never really any answer but to rebuild.
Galveston is also historical and has already survived a huge disaster. Galveston has been a vacation spot for Hollywood stars and common people alike. If New Orleans is doing it, so willGalveston!
Many times, I have thought about the Ontario town of Morrisburg, Ontario that I remembered being moved in the 50s to make way for the construction St. Lawrence Seaway. As you can see from the photo, they literally trucked buildings to a site a few miles away. Upper Canada Villageis the main tourist attraction there. You can visit to see just how life was lived (with people dressed in costume portraying life in the 1860s) or you can take your whole film crew there and make a movie depicting that time.
Since the town was moved, Morrisburg has grown and flourished as a tourist area. There is also Prehistoric World, a theme park for dinosaur lovers. There is plenty of accommodation and this would make a wonderful family vacation during the summer months.
So, Morrisburg took lemons and made lemonade.
If a city is set on ground that is prone to flood destruction, does it not make sense to re-located the actual residences and essential services to higher ground? Tourists could still go to enjoy the waterfront in good weather.
The St. Lawrence Seaway was completed in 1959, a joint project of Canada and the United States. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight Eisenhower (Ike, coincidentally). Next year, events are planned to celebrate this fiftieth anniversary.
Morrisburg, Ontario is located just off Hwy. 401, about 225 miles east of Toronto, Ontario and about 85 miles West of Montreal, Quebec.
Let us hope and pray that Galveston can rebuild the beach and perhaps relocate some residences on safer land.
To learn more, visit
www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com
www.uppercanadavillage.com
http://www.pbase.com/naturepics/upper_canada_village_morrisburg_ontario
www.c360.ca/morrisburg
No comments:
Post a Comment