There is quite a current thru these canals, and while there are locks upstream, but the breach was right next to the lake.
The surge in the lake topped the levee along a broad front, but only broke it in a couple places. There is no lock on the levee adjacent to the lake.
The area in lower right is the lake. You can see it totally whiped out the lake side wall of the levee.
It used to look like this
I was surprised there wasn't a second defensive dike...inside of that one between that one and downtown...even a ring of higher ground...when you look at that photo downtown looks like a long way away...
"The surge in the lake topped the levee along a broad front, but only broke it in a couple places. There is no lock on the levee adjacent to the lake.
The area in lower right is the lake. You can see it totally whiped out the lake side wall of the levee."
Nice pics - notice all the debris that almost camed the canal at the bridge - its a shame they did not tow some hulls and sink them there - a couple dozen 40' sloops with 10,000 lb keels and tarps strung over the side would have plugged it.