They might have said it, but they didn't believe it. There is a difference. If they believed that the city would die, they have reacted differently. Because they didn't really believe that the levees would fail and the city would die, they did not plan for it. I don't care how you spin it now. No one expected the levees to fail.
They knew it. They have known it for 50 years. I will look for information for you. In any event, That's the point, they didn't know. It's a chance. I live on LI and believe me, my life is worth a lot more than holding out during a hurricane category 3 or above. I'm nervous with a 2. I sure hope, since I live in a Hurricane possible strike area, our local officials have an idea of what to do. Actually I'll be gone. It would be interesting to know, I will look into that.