Everyone KNEW that the storm was a catagory (5) storm with sustained winds of 175 mph. and reported wind gusts well over that, at the very least 12 hours before land fall. Everyone KNEW that NewOrleans was in the direct path of the eye wall at that time, luckily the storm moved east at the last minute missing downtown by a few miles. What kind of mentality does it take to leave 20,000 people stranded in the heart of a city built (6) feet BELOW sea level being protected by Levee's designed to withstand a catagory (3) storm ?. Not to mention Levee's and water pumps that were nearly 100 years old.
Levees are just a BAD IDEA!