Hurricane Katrina Latest Threat To Shuttle Program

I have trouble understanding the economic savings gained from building Shuttle parts 1000 miles from where they are used, but who am I to argue with the logic of NASA?

At some point, somebody thought building the external fuel tanks in a lake shore situated, World War II era factory located about six feet below sea level, that needs constant pumping to stay dry even when it's not raining. With logic like that it's a wonder NASA ever made it off the planet.

Anyway, there is an outside chance Katrina (with 150+ mph winds and a 28 foot storm surge) could damage the half-dozen completed fuel tanks at the Michoud Assembly Facility west of Lake Borgne, delaying the Return To Flight even longer. If that were to happen it's possible returning the Shuttle to space could become cost-prohibitive, forcing a complete Space system re-design.
Yes, there is a point that NASA will stop paying, and the Shuttle is fast approaching it.

Let's just hope Katrina misses the mark, or at least produces less rain as it surges inland. And in the future perhaps we should consider building parts for our Spaceships someplace less susceptible to utter devastation by annual weather patterns. It's just a suggestion, but as I already said, who am I to argue with NASA logic?