I'm not going to to the research for you 2 but there have been many posts here on FR, with articles dating back to the early 80's that the levees are NOT being maintained properly, NOT able to withstand a > cat 3 huricane and the Democrats running the city & state are doing nothing to remedy the situation.
Let me help with the math:
Levees = good up to Cat 3.
Katrina = Cat 5
3 > 5 = the levees are gonna break!!
Result: the intelligent leave, the ignorant stay.
(yes it's cold hearted but sadly true)
Correction: Make that "5 > 3 = Levee's gonna break"