[IronMan04]

Yes each parish has a levee board but it is the Army Corps of Engineers that builds and maintains the levees.

[IronMan04]

Explain the Army Corps of Engeneers role:

http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pao/whoweare/index.asp

[WHBates]

"Yes each parish has a levee board but it is the Army Corps of Engineers that builds and maintains the levees."

I understand who is responsible for O&M of the levee system but it is sure curious why LA would have so many boards and commissions to oversee something they can't control. These folks control lots of money though. BTW, why is that? Maybe the were suppose to prepare for this very event, ya think?

Th Corps does not have discretion to build a new levee system, that is a political decision. The current system is designed for cat 3 max. The ER people knew this and NO and LA has received millions if not billions from the Federal government to put ER plans and equipment in place for this and other reasons. It obvious that they didn't do it or failed to do it properly.

The Corp can be blamed if it the kept the status of the levee system a secret from the politicians but I don't think that is the case.