Julie,
The gentleman that is in charge of the levies in LA was on TV a couple of days ago.
His words:
If I had a billion $ to start the work 20 years ago, we could not have been ready today.

His words also.
The levies did not fail, it was the flood walls.

I don't think we will ever know what or what not, could have been done.

The blame game will go on for many years.
The simple fact is NO was not prepared for what happened and probably could have never been prepared for what happened. The total destruction of an American city.

If anyone is depending on City, State, or Federal goverenment to take care of them if their entire city is destroyed they will be disapointed.
Prepare yourself and your family as best you can to hold out several days (weeks) until help can be mobilized.

Personally I am not prepared. Hopefully I won't blame anyone else if it happens tonight.

And:
I am not typing this to you or saying you are blaming anyone. I was just in a typing mood.
Had to get my mind off a major problem that happened when I got home tonight.

It appears that sometime today my electric was off and I walked into 3 of those digital clocks blinking at me. How come they all have to be set in different ways? Why can't they all be the same? Where are the frigging instructions? What an inconvience!!! Where is my grandson, he would know how to do it! Stupid electric co! Why do I have 3 anyway, I only have 3 rooms. I solved 1/3 of the problem by throwing one clock in the trash!

I told you I wasn't prepared and I doubt if I ever will be. I sincerly hope some of you out there will get prepared.