Check out these articles which fully explain the geography and potential devastation from a major hurricane in the New Orleans area. It's unreal how all of this has come true with Katrina. This is really educational. They predicted everything, including the inability to get rescue and relief efforts into the area.

This is a 5 part story by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein. I can't tell the dates, but it is sometime after Sept 11th and prior to Katrina.

1. In Harm's Way

http://www.nola.com/...away/harmsway_1.html

2. The Big One -

http://www.nola.com/...way/thebigone_1.html

3. Exposure's Cost

http://www.nola.com/...away/exposure_1.html

4. Tempting Fate

http://www.nola.com/.../temptingfate_1.html

5. Cost of Survival

http://www.nola.com/...ostofsurvival_1.html