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I'm an emergency manager in NOLA so I never evacuate, but I'm kept pretty busy. I guess that is why the storms all kind of blend together in my memory.

Yes, the flood water may top out a third story building under the right conditions. You can probably survive if you can make it to the 4th floor of some building or to the top of the I-10 in places. Being several feet below sea level really puts us at a serious disadvantage for severe storms, but for light storms, the levees provide tremendous protection.

Of course if we do get the big one, then you may have to wait days to be rescued, especially if you are trapped inside of a building and we can't see you from a boat or a barge. Take an axe or chainsaw with you if you are forced into your attic in case you need to get up onto the roof. We tell people that there will be places with 18 to 24 feet of water if the levees are topped and the pumps fail and they can't believe it, but it could happen. If the eye of the storm came up the river and backed up the river flow with an 18 foot storm surge on top of that and then crossed over onto the lake and pushed much of that water back into the city, we are going to have a very bad day. If the pumps go under water, they could be out of service up to 6 months. So that means the city is underwater for that entire time.

If you choose to stay in the city with a cat 3 or higher storm you have to be very cognizant of rapidly rising water. Head for high ground and be sure to take along a life vest and enough food and water to wait several days to be rescued by boat or barge. Our levees are rated for Cat 2, but even so there may be localized flooding of around 5 feet in some areas due to heavy rain alone. By the way, a storm surge could easily travel from the gulf all the way to Baton Rouge, so it is extremely important for those outside the levee system to evacuate even cat 1 and 2 storms.

Thanks for the information. We live in St. Charles Parish, so we have mandatory evacuations earlier than most. I didn't realize the levees were only safe up to a category 2. My husband can't usually evacuate due to his job either; but, there is no way I am staying around. During the May 8, 1995 flood we had alligators and smake swimming down our street. Our house didn't take on water; but, it was literally lapping at our foundation. I hope I never live to see a bad hurricane in our area.

Thanks for your hard work. I know it can't be easy.