New Orleans Looks to Levees as Gustav Approaches

The newly-repaired levees that failed New Orleans three years ago during Katrina absolutely must stand up to Hurricane Gustav. Sitting below sea level, the levee system is all that protects the city from storm flooding. Indeed, had the levees -- built, maintained by the U.S. Corps of Engineers -- not failed three years ago, New Orleans would have suffered far less damages and loss of life due to Katrina.

A levee is an earthen embankment, floodwall, or structure along a water course intended to reduce flood risk by preventing the passage of water to protected land.

In June 2006, the Corps of Engineers admitted that they alone were responsible for design flaws that led to the failure of the New Orleans levee system, and immediately began an all-out repair effort including a successful recruiting effort to station more of its manpower directly in New Orleans.

The Corps of Engineers is responsible for the design and maintenance of about 2,000 levees nationwide. Thousands of other levees are built and maintained by state and local governments, and private landowners.

Three years and billions of dollars after Katrina, the Corps says that while the levees are not fully prepared for a major hurricane, New Orleans now has the best flood control system in the city's history. New Orleans hopes so. We all hope so.

Also See:
Bush Okays Hurricane Gustav Emergency Aid
FEMA Prepares as Gustav Aims at New Orleans
Corps of Engineers Repairing New Orleans Levee System
US Corps Takes Blame for New Orleans Levee Failures