Why are the Levees constantly failing New Orleans?

Question

What is the problem, why is there an issue with the levees every hurricane? I must admit I havent been paying too much attention to the facts/details so can someone explain?

Answer 1

they did not fall (Aug. Hurricane Isaac)

Answer 2

1. No major Federal or State protection levees failed.



2. Some privately-built (i.e. community) levees were built smaller than they needed to be. But the were not breached. They were overrun, which is a design issue, not a construction issue.



3. It is clear you HAVE NOT been paying attention. Both The Weather Channel and CNN made this point clear in their coverage. I know because I watched from the motel to where I evacuated.



After Katrina seven years ago, I came home to find that my home had been flooded to a depth of two feet - enough to short out the electrical sockets on the ground floor. After Isaac, all I had to worry about was some downed branches.

Answer 3

In it's simplest terms the Mississippi River, and it's tributaries all leave silt on the river bed slowly raising the level of the river. Periodically the levee's have to be raised to compensate for this problem. This has gotten to the point where the river is now ABOVE sea level, and the land surrounding it. When hurricanes cause wave surges from the Gulf of Mexico to travel up the river it causes the water lever to spill over the levees.

Answer 4

why don't you ask in the proper category?