Officials eyeing levee work stoppage

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Army Corps of Engineers and New Orleans officials say they are considering stopping work on most levee projects due to an approaching hurricane.

New Orleans levee official David Bindewald said with Hurricane Gustav slowly approaching the region, work on more than 20 miles of levees may be temporarily suspended to better prepare for the storm, the New Orleans Times-Picayune said Wednesday.

"What we're looking at is expectation of a hit," the West Bank levee board's outgoing president said. "We're gearing up with that in mind."

The West Bank area of New Orleans was not hit hard during Hurricane Katrina, but without the completion of the full levee project may not be as fortunate with the next major hurricane.

The Times-Picayune said due to such potential problems, levee board officials have stockpiled 3,000-pound rock bags to act as water barriers, along with large quantities of rock and sand.