The top pic is a view of the Orelans Parish levee breach during hurricane Katrina. The other pic is a view of the Jefferson Parish levee during that time. As Maxwell Smart used to say (Man I’m old!) “Missed it by that much!” 
The Times Picayune reported:
Independent forensic engineers say the west floodwall of the 17th Street Canal was starting to fail during Hurricane Katrina when its counterpart on the opposite bank breached, spilling Lake Pontchartrain into much of New Orleans and parts of Old Metairie and Old Jefferson.
In Rising Tide, John Barry pointed out that during times of severe flooding, armed guards were placed on the levees along the Mississippi River to ensure that persons from the other side of the river didn’t make their way across the river and blow the levees to protect their property.
I really don’t think this happened in New Orleans, but my concern is that if some levees are reinforced it may cause others to fail. Like the one behind my house…Oh well.
Another HUGE concern I have is that if the city begins to evacuate at every storm (I will anyway!) I believe that some persons will stay behind to loot! Kind of scary. I’m headed to Lowe’s this weekend so I can make sure I secure my house before I leave.
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