> > Ok, who builds a city under sea level on the coast
> >in a hurricane zone? My thoughts and prayers go
> >out to those hurt by the hurricane, but I can't get
> >past wondering what New Orleans' settlers were
> >thinking 280 years ago.
>
> I hear that. I hate to seem callous, but everytime I go to CNN.com and see New Orleans underwater, I keep thinking "That's what you get for building a city below sea level right on the coast. Bound to happen eventually."

Well, I don't know about the meteorological history of The Big Easy, but until the early 20th century, "construction was largely limited to the slightly higher ground along old natural river levees and bayous, since much of the rest of the land was swampy and subject to frequent flooding." (from the Wikipedia article on New Orleans) I also don't know how high this higher ground was, so it might not make too much difference. Then again, slightly higher was the difference between our immediate backyard and our back backyard, and between our house and the house two doors over. I think I still have video footage of water washing across the road into their driveway.