(CBS) Hurricanes are a fact of life for coastal residents of the southeast. And even as New Orleans pumps out Katrina's flood, scientists know the city will face the same threat again.

The question is: how to hold back the sea. CBS News Correspondent Mark Phillips reports that one proven way is the Dutch way.

This may sound familiar: A storm surge overwhelms a low-lying coastline. Flood barriers give way. Thousands killed, tens of thousands made homeless.

Except this isn't the U.S. Gulf coast in 2005. It's Holland in 1953. These aren't called the Low Countries for nothing.

What the Dutch learned then, and how they responded, may hold lessons for post-Katrina America.

"When we have an increase water level four meters above sea level then half of Holland is below water," said Peter Persoon of the Dutch Sea Defenses Authority.

The Dutch response was not simply to shore up the dike system that failed, but to build a new system of outer sea barriers – massive, complex structures stretching for miles. It cost about $8 billion – a lot of money for a small country – but the Dutch knew it was a matter of pay me now or pay me later.




"The choice we have to make here is to give safety to one million people and it cost money," said Persoon. "But it's cheaper than afterwards when we have a big disaster and one million people get flooded."

The greatest challenge was to protect Rotterdam, yet still allow shipping into its crucial port. The answer was gigantic and ingenious moving arches that can be swung out into the river and then sunk there to block any incoming storm surge.

The Dutch long ago learned that this is a really simple problem — if you want to keep the land and water where they are supposed to be, you have to spend whatever it takes to build a barrier to keep them apart.

With climate change, rising sea levels and more severe storms in the future, the Dutch think they'll have to close this barrier every three or four years.

In Holland they think the choice in the U.S. is inevitable.

"New Orleans, what I know, is also low. So by the rising of the sea level you have to build something," Persoon said.

"No choice?" asked Phillips

"No choice or leave the area," Persoon said.

The same choice they faced here.

©MMV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Yeah I saw a segment on CNN about this. Those are massive flood barriers they've built. They cover the entire coast below the city and look like they scoop outward right into the Black Sea surf when fully deployed. Humongous hydraulic things.

The issue here, as usual, is money. No one here wants to spend the billions of dollars it takes to build something like this.

Then something horrible happens, & we end up paying more than it would've cost to avoid in the first place.

Holland = smart

U.S. = dumb

Heh. Monty. Yeah. That'd be a hell of an engineering achievement to control Dutch flooding from Yalta or Sveti Vlas.

Whoops.

We could do that. But how about we RESTORE Louisiana's natural defenses first with barrier islands and wetlands to protect the inhabital parts. Building outleys for the Mississippi to redistribute land would go along way.

Also building the planned Morganza to the Gulf protection to category 5 instead of the planned cat 3 level would do alot to insure that I'll have a home for 10 more years.

Honestly, I think we know how to protect Louisiana. We just haven't dedicated the money.

and how do we keep houses from sinking?

and how do we keep houses from sinking?

The issue here, as usual, is money. No one here wants to spend the billions of dollars it takes to build something like this.

Then something horrible happens, & we end up paying more than it would've cost to avoid in the first place.

Holland = smart

U.S. = dumb

How many people have the Dutch sent into space?

Just checking there, dumbass.....

I dont think largess equals dumbness.

Obviously, we will do something here but its gonna have to be done in concert with the petrol industry down there since they are about the only reason to not just flood the whole fucking state.

Sorry guys, I love Luzeeanna.

How many people have the Dutch sent into space?

Just checking there, dumbass.....

I dont think largess equals dumbness.

Obviously, we will do something here but its gonna have to be done in concert with the petrol industry down there since they are about the only reason to not just flood the whole fucking state.

Sorry guys, I love Luzeeanna.

I will personally piss on every oyster in the gulf in hopes that it reaches your mouth

We get farm raised from West VA up here and I only fish out of Appalachacola---I got no use for that oil covered, multi eyed, shit you guys have down there.

That's where you're wrong my friend. Nothing compares to a Louisiana oyster. Oil covered or not. Gulf shrimp is also superior.

I will then personally shit on all oil that comes in to the US in hopes that it reaches your truck.

That's where you're wrong my friend. Nothing compares to a Louisiana oyster. Oil covered or not. Gulf shrimp is also superior.

I will then personally shit on all oil that comes in to the US in hopes that it reaches your truck.

How many people have the Dutch sent into space?

Just checking there, dumbass.....

I dont think largess equals dumbness.

Obviously, we will do something here but its gonna have to be done in concert with the petrol industry down there since they are about the only reason to not just flood the whole fucking state.

Sorry guys, I love Luzeeanna.

We get farm raised from West VA up here and I only fish out of Appalachacola---I got no use for that oil covered, multi eyed, shit you guys have down there.

Gulf oysters and shrimp own. Also, interestingly enough, when they built oil derricks out from Mobile, the state sued Exxon, Shell, etc...saying it would irreperably damge the environment/fishing, etc...now, if you ask any fisherman down here, they will tell you the best place to set you hooks is by the oil derricks. Irony.