Levee Breaches During Katrina
Both residents and visitors to New Orleans still have the desire to see where the levees failed during Katrina in August 2005. This tour includes the sites of the Southeast breach of the Industrial Canal, which flooded the Lower Ninth Ward, the East breach of the London Avenue Canal, which flooded Gentilly, and the 17th Street Canal breach, which flooded Lakeview.
In 2005, Sandy Rosenthal founded levees.org with her son Stanford, then just 15 years old, to raise awareness about why the levees failed during Hurricane Katrina. The stops in this tour are recognized with historical markers. Be aware these are located in residential neighborhoods, so if visiting in person, please be mindful. For a more immersive way to reflect on the aftermath of the levee failures, you can also visit the Flooded House Museum & Levee Exhibit .
Access: Driving
Distance: ~10 miles, ~30 min
Stories 4
Lower Ninth Ward Levee Breaches in 2005
Pre-Katrina, the area immediately in front of the east breaches of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (a.k.a. the Industrial Canal) was a dense, thriving neighborhood of primarily African American…
Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (Industrial Canal) and the Lower Ninth Ward
Now known as the historic Lower Ninth Ward, this area orginated as a cypress swamp featuring many bayous. In this rural setting, residents enjoyed ready access to fishing grounds and grew okra and…
London Avenue Canal Levee Breach in 2005
In 1965, Hurricane Betsy demonstrated that a major hurricane could overtop the earthen levees of the London Avenue Canal. So the Army Corps of Engineers recommended two plans -- raising the height of…
17th Street Canal Levee Breach in 2005
In 1965, Hurricane Betsy demonstrated that a major hurricane could overtop the earthen levees of the 17th Street Canal. So the Army Corps of Engineers recommended two cost-effective plans which were…Tour curated by: Levees.org, New Orleans Public Library, Louisiana State Museum, and the University of New Orleans History Department