From the October 2004 (1 year ago) issue of *National Geographic* magazine:
Thousands drowned in the murky brew that was soon contaminated by
Sewage and industrial waste. Thousands more who survived the flood later
Perished from dehydration and disease as they waited to be rescued. It
Took two months to pump the city dry, and by then the Big Easy was buried
Under a blanket of putrid sediment, a million people were homeless,
And 50,000 were dead. It was the worst natural disaster in the history
Of the United States.
When did this calamity happen? It hasn't--yet. But the doomsday scenario
Is not far-fetched. The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists a
Hurricane strike on New Orleans as one of the most dire threats to the
Nation, up there with a large earthquake in California or a terrorist
Attack on New York City. Even the Red Cross no longer opens hurricane
Shelters in the city, claiming the risk to its workers is too great.
Read the whole article he
www3.nationalgeographic.com/ .../feature5/