There are many kinds of dredge vessels, but for the purposes of this story, the ones we care about are trailing suction hopper dredges, commonly known as “hopper dredges.” These are ocean-going vessels that can endure fierce currents. They were used to build the Palm Islands off the coast of Dubai, and they’re how the low-lying Netherlands fight off the North Sea. To prevent shoaling (the buildup of sand and sediment), boats called dredge vessels were needed to keep waterways navigable and ports deep enough for vessels to dock.ĭredge vessels are also ships that (literally) shape the land we live on, at least in coastal areas. But this was somewhat of a Sisyphean endeavor, because the Mississippi River is akin to a fire hose of mud and silt. Larger boats needed deeper ports to safely dock and unload cargo. Globalization increased the amount of freight traversing the oceans and entering the Port of New Orleans. As I grew, so did the size of maritime vessels. I was fascinated by the parade of river traffic-and that fascination stuck with me throughout my childhood. Pepper, we imagined ourselves explorers as we watched the barges and container ships float pass us. All summer long, as workers piled moldy sheetrock and insulation along our street, my twin sister and I explored the strip of woods between our house and the Mississippi River. In May 1995, a massive flood inundated our home with three feet of water. Ask any Gulf Coast resident about that “pre-hurricane feeling” and you’ll likely hear a description of anticipation, giddiness, and dread.
My own childhood was shaped, in large part, by more recent storms and evacuations. My parents each had their various tales from Hurricane Betsy in 1965. Just like rings on a tree, hurricane events marked the passing of generations. Growing up on the Mississippi River just north of New Orleans, it was not uncommon for a spring deluge to turn our deadend street into a waist-high pool.
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