Will post-Katrina defences hold up?

摘要

Five years after hurricane Katrina, the revamp of New Orleans's flood defences is nearing completion. The 560-kilometre city perimeter is fortified by cement levees more than 9 metres high, with huge gates that will grind shut when floodwater nears. But is this enough to protect the city from future storms?rnAt a total cost to the US federal government of $14.45 billion, the city is certainly safer than it was on 29 August 2005, when Katrina made landfall.