Mardi Gras attendees were humorously advised to visit before New Orleans potentially faces flooding issues due to ongoing environmental concerns. Despite Hurricane Katrina's devastation, flooding remains a significant risk, with FEMA identifying it as a top disaster threat. Funding cuts for levee improvements, redirected to other priorities like homeland security, have left the levee system underprepared for severe storms. The discussion highlights the inadequacy of the levee design, which was only meant to withstand a Category 3 hurricane, while New Orleans faced a Category 4. Overall, the conversation underscores the critical need for better infrastructure and emergency preparedness in light of the city's vulnerability to natural disasters.
