Yes, I understand completely. Shep appears to be happy the French Quarter is still there...to hack with the rest of N.O.
French Quarter was high ground even before there were levees. That's why they put it there in the beginning. It can still flood, though. There are naturally occurring higher spots in the area, what they call "ridges" like Metairie Ridge.
Richer people live on higher ground, poorer people on lower ground, generally speaking.