New Orleans Warnings Or Dangers Tips by VeronicaG Top 5 Page for this destination

The Levees Weather Hazards Review

We all know what happened to New Orleans' levees--they topped and overflowed inundating neighborhoods with flooding and debris after Hurricane Katrina.

Levees are 'a natural or artificial slope or wall, usually earthen and often parallel to the course of a river' (wikipedia). The word is French, meaning 'to rise'; also referred to as a 'dike' by the Dutch.

It is the Dutch with whom New Orleans authorities are consulting in regards to constructing efficient levees--and who could know more than the Dutch, with water levels just as low as in New Orleans!

Our guide, Jenny*, wanted everyone to know that the problem with the city's levees was caused by an engineering flaw. Hopefully, the problem will never put New Orleans' population and historic structures in peril again.

*Tours by Isabelle

Just Be Careful Crime Review

In preparing for our trip to New Orleans, I read several times that one should be very careful wandering around certain districts. One of those cautions involved the visiting of cemetaries.

When we stopped by St. Louis cemetery #3, we were with a tour group. Even then, we were told to stay with the group and not to wander. It seems that these areas attract certain people who are involved with drugs. They tend to cluster deep in the middle of the cemetery, where eyes can't easily find them.

We were perfectly safe walking about the French Quarter, where the presence of policemen was in evidence. Never did we feel in danger while visiting this lovely historic city

Shades of Katrina Weather Hazards Review

As we explored various districts, driving through some affected by Katrina three years ago, we saw homes which were still not repaired.

Shortly after leaving City Park, which experienced quite a bit of flooding during the devastating storm, we came across this boarded up residence.

Although New Orleans waged a massive drive to restore itself, remnants of the past destruction are still visible. How far this city has come!