The U.S. wasn't taken by surprised by this storm.  The levees needed repairing the US government reduced funding by 80% to support the Iraq invasion.  The hurricane was downgraded to a category 4 when it hit shores and it was common knowledge that the superdome and the levees holding back the mighty Mississippi and Lake Ponchartrain could only withstand a category 3 hurricane.  This is why the city officials told the hotel owners and the owners of the bars in the French Quarter to tell all of their patrons to evacuate the City Thursday before the storm. Black residents were told on Sunday. The storm hit Monday.  Those who could afford to leave left, those who couldn't afford stayed. This article is a good example showing that America was taken by surprised.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-levee4sep04,0,6360838,full.storyDespite Warnings, Washington Failed to Fund Levee Projects
To cut spending, officials gambled that the worst-case scenario would not come to be.

By Richard A. Serrano and Nicole Gaouette, Times Staff Writers

WASHINGTON — For years, Washington had been warned that doom lurked just beyond the levees. And for years, the White House and Congress had dickered over how much money to put into shoring up century-old dikes and carrying out newer flood control projects to protect the city of New Orleans.

As recently as three months ago, the alarms were sounding — and being brushed aside.






Cynthia Daniels
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