The NO flooding is not a good thing, but there is an enormous difference between slowly rising still water, and a hurricane driven surge which undermines foundations and then knocks down bearing walls.
NO can be drained. Had it flooded yeaterday during the heigth of the storm, there'd be nothing left worth draining.
I disagree. If there are four major breeches in the levees, by this time tomorrow New Orleans will be at the same water level as Lake Pontchatrain. Pumping water back into the lake is useless if there is open communication between the lake and the city.
And if fires break out, it's over. Recall what happened to Grand Forks when it flooded. This is far, far worse.
The lake is equalizing into the city. There's no place to pump it. Everything will sit under water for months. I'm sorry to say this . . . and it pains me because I have 5 Aunts who have fled the area . . . but, New Orleans is no more.