This article in today's New York Times about an archaeologist working with FEMA on Hurricane Katrina reconstruction is interesting as far as it goes, but leaves a lot out concerning the role that cultural resources (archaeology and history) play in those Federally-funded efforts. Much of the work that FEMA sponsors is considered Federal undertakings, and as such is subject to review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which means that studies of historic and archaeological properties affected by them have to be done and significant resources protected.
There are many archaeologists, historic architects and historic preservationists (far beyond the woman mentioned in the article) working in Louisiana and Mississippi right now on this mission. My employer has support contracts with FEMA for this type of activity and I and my wife have been repeatedly asked to go for 30 to 90 day stints. Were our schedules with current clients not so onerous we would. Connie spent the month of October, 2004 in Florida, working for FEMA and the Corps of Engineers doing just that after the three hurricanes that hit there that year.
With all the historic buildings and resources in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast that is a big job. Just wanted to fill you in on that.
It was also interesting to see in this article that some of Dr. Dawdy's previous excavations in the city may have uncovered a bordello.
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