Living below sea level is something you can get away with for awhile - maybe even a couple hundred years, until the weather turns around and bites you. But you always know it's not going to last, and to refuse to consider this possibility amounts, IMHO, to criminal negligence. People died because the state and city officials wouldn't face reality.
Like the crazed gambler who keeps winning and going double for nothing.
Actually it's broader than that. People died because the residents wouldn't face reality. Believe me one would have to be an idiot to live in N.O. and not be aware of the risk. It's the "City that care forgot", remember? Granted the local officials have made it worse but ultimately all of the people of N.O. share responsibility for a tragedy everyone knew would happen sooner or later.