Arlene Lombard Compass: My son Marlon is 5-years-old,
he didn't have to live through Hurricane
Katrina. He didn't have to see his entire
city flooded. He didn't have to leave his
home and wonder if he would ever return. He
didn't have to watch bodies floating, wondering
if they were people we knew. He didn't have
to experience what I did and my hope is that
he never will.
Narrator: Through the development of advanced
storm cell monitoring, Notre Dame Professor
Joannes Westerink is helping guide the Army
Corps of Engineers in the reconstruction of
the New Orleans hurricane protection system.
Dr. Joannes Westerink: Storm surge is the
rising water that is driven in by hurricanes
winds and waves. During Hurricane Katrina,
an unprecedented level of storm surge developed
and it simply overwhelmed the levees. At Notre
Dame, we are able to pinpoint what exactly
went wrong during Katrina and what can go
wrong during hundreds of future storms.
Narrator: Utilizing the results from Dr. Westerink's
lab, the Core of Engineers has redesigned
the levee and gate closure systems that protect
greater New Orleans.
Walter Baumy: Dr. Westerink has been a vital
source in the rebuilding of New Orleans, not
only for the short term, but the long term.
His contributions have been absolutely astounding.
Westerink: What inspires me is a sense of
discovery, a sense of improving technologies
and ultimately helping people live better
and safer lives.
Narrator: The University of Notre Dame asks
what would you fight for?
Compass: Fighting to protect my city.
Westerink: We are the Fighting Irish.
