Protection against the next storm of the century

Geotechnical Initiatives Post Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans

Katrina was the sort of disaster that brings a world together. People from all over donated their time and their money to relief and rebuilding. In 2007, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded FFEB JV, LLC (FFEB) a $100M three-year contract to provide geotechnical engineering services in the rebuilding effort.

FFEB is a joint venture between Stantec and three other consulting firms, and our goal was to protect New Orleans against future hurricanes up to the 100-year level. Plus, we had to complete our work by the beginning of the 2011 hurricane season.

We performed sampling in diverse conditions including on land (truck or ATV-mounted drilling equipment), under water (drill rigs mounted on a jackup barge), and in marshes (drill rigs mounted on amphibious buggies). We also coordinated field operations.

At the end of the contract in 2010, FFEB was awarded an additional five-year geotechnical contract. We’ve completed field explorations for existing levees, T-Walls and I-Walls, and various pumping stations as well as new levee alignments. This partnership and this work are helping to ensure a safer future for New Orleans and its surrounding communities.