The New Orleans hurricane protection system: assessing pre-Katrina vulnerability and improving mitigation and preparedness

This report evaluates the performance of the New Orleans hurricane protection system and studies the vulnerabilities posed to the city and the region by hurricanes. More specifically, the objectives of the study are defined as: (i) the design and status of the hurricane protection system pre-Katrina; (ii) storm surges and waves generated by Hurricane Katrina; (iii) performance of the hurricane protection system during and after Katrina; (iv) societal-related consequences of Katrina-related damage; and (v) risks to New Orleans and the region posed by future tropical storms.

The report takes into account the findings documented in the previous four reports of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Interagency Performance Evaluation Task Force (IPET), its extensive draft final report, and professional viewpoints on hurricane protection, risk, and mitigation. It provides review comments on the IPET draft final report, and comments on key lessons learned from the Katrina experience and their implications for future hurricane preparedness and planning for south Louisiana.