In the realm of disaster fiction, Rick Bahlinger's new novel 'Mother Nature Hates To Lose' presents a chillingly plausible scenario that underscores the fragility of critical infrastructure in the United States. The book, set in south Louisiana, revolves around a manmade catastrophe of epic proportions that begins at the Old River Control Structure (ORCS) in the Mississippi River basin. Bahlinger, who grew up in Louisiana and holds an engineering background, spent five decades researching the topic, driven by a conviction that such a disaster could indeed happen.
The Old River Control Structure, along with its aging network of locks and dams, is a primary geographical vulnerability. A major flood, drought, or structural failure could severely disrupt domestic and international shipping, which relies heavily on this waterway. Furthermore, the region's petroleum infrastructure, often labeled 'America's Achilles Heel' by geopolitical and economic authorities, is immense and susceptible to disruption. Bahlinger's engineering education and experience enabled him to describe the technical aspects of the story with authority, making the narrative all the more compelling.
The plot thickens when drug cartels and corrupt politicians conspire to exploit these vulnerabilities, creating a disaster that starts at the confluence of three rivers in south Louisiana but reverberates across the country and the world. The story follows Beau Bonnet, Chief Engineer at ORCS, his wife Rachelle Bonnet, a Louisiana State Senator, and Rene 'Buster' Champagne, a DEA agent and Beau's best friend since high school. Together, they must thwart the conspiracy and control an out-of-control river. If they fail, the consequences could dwarf Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, billions in property damage, and environmental devastation.
Bahlinger's personal connection to the area enriches the narrative. He fished with his grandpa near Krotz Springs, LA, and has traveled extensively through the towns and highways mentioned in the book. The characters are loosely based on people he grew up with, adding authenticity to their actions and motivations. His research was bolstered by his father-in-law, whose work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers involved periodic inspections of the ORCS. This provided invaluable insight into the potential consequences of a failure, including research conducted by professionals at LSU.
The book serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of neglecting infrastructure and the potential for human malice to exploit these weaknesses. Bahlinger's conclusion is stark: the disaster he describes could happen, and the impact would be devastating not just for Louisiana but for the entire country and the world. The novel also highlights the ongoing battle between human ambition and nature's resilience, as the title suggests.
'Mother Nature Hates To Lose' is available from Amazon.com or other book retailers. Bahlinger's work is a reminder that preparedness and vigilance are crucial in safeguarding against both natural and manmade disasters. As he notes, 'The more I researched, the more I realized just how big this disaster could be, not just environmentally, but economically, and, most importantly, enormously destructive to real people.'
