[burzum]

I'm fairly skeptical that any response could have stopped the canal breaks before the city reached equilibrium level with Lake Pontchartrain. It took about a week to close it off when the level was stabilized. Closing it off when there was a large flow of water would have been much more difficult (washing away your sandbags, fill, etc). If the break was small they might have been able to handle it, but it was huge!

[syriacus]

Were Brown and the Feds misinformed about the situation by Ebbert or Ebbert's superiors?

Would the Feds have done anything differently if Ebberts hadn't downplayed the breach?

[Vinnie]

I'm fairly skeptical that any response could have stopped the canal breaks before the city reached equilibrium level with Lake Pontchartrain. It took about a week to close it off when the level was stabilized. Closing it off when there was a large flow of water would have been much more difficult (washing away your sandbags, fill, etc).

Bingo

[aumrl]

Actually there were three breaks and the longer they leaked the larger they became due to the erosion. Question is; where were the"dry dock" barges that the city should have had on standby in anticipation of any breeches? Why were so many pumps inoperable? Why didnt canals have gates, which could have been closed to remove pressure at breaks?