<P> In the City of New Orleans , the storm surge caused approximately 23 breaches in drainage canal and navigational canal levees and floodwalls . As mandated in the Flood Control Act of 1965 , responsibility for the design and construction of the city 's levees belongs to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and responsibility for their maintenance belongs to the Orleans Levee Board . The failures of levees and floodwalls during Katrina are considered by experts to be the worst engineering disaster in the history of the United States . By August 31 , 2005 , 80 % of New Orleans was flooded , with some parts under 15 feet ( 4.6 m ) of water . The famous French Quarter and Garden District escaped flooding because those areas are above sea level . The major breaches included the 17th Street Canal levee , the Industrial Canal levee , and the London Avenue Canal floodwall . These breaches caused the majority of the flooding , according to a June 2007 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers . The flood disaster halted oil production and refining which increased oil prices worldwide . </P>
<P> In the City of New Orleans , the storm surge caused approximately 23 breaches in drainage canal and navigational canal levees and floodwalls . As mandated in the Flood Control Act of 1965 , responsibility for the design and construction of the city 's levees belongs to the United States Army Corps of Engineers and responsibility for their maintenance belongs to the Orleans Levee Board . The failures of levees and floodwalls during Katrina are considered by experts to be the worst engineering disaster in the history of the United States . By August 31 , 2005 , 80 % of New Orleans was flooded , with some parts under 15 feet ( 4.6 m ) of water . The famous French Quarter and Garden District escaped flooding because those areas are above sea level . The major breaches included the 17th Street Canal levee , the Industrial Canal levee , and the London Avenue Canal floodwall . These breaches caused the majority of the flooding , according to a June 2007 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers . The flood disaster halted oil production and refining which increased oil prices worldwide . </P>
what caused the greatest loss of life and property during hurricane katrina
what caused the greatest loss of life and property during hurricane katrina
The failures of levees and floodwalls
The failures of levees and floodwalls