Myths of Katrina: Field Notes from a Geoscientist

Although it has been nearly ten years since the Hurricane Katrina disaster, many misconceptions (myths) still surround the events that took place. Among these myths are that levees failed the day after Katrina made landfall, that the failed levees were on the Mississippi River, that the “corrupt” Orleans Levee Board was responsible for the failed levees, that Katrina was such a large storm that it overwhelmed New Orleans, and that New Orleans is a city below sea level. These myths are thought to persist for reasons that include incomplete information, lack of knowledge, and political expediency.