In this June 22, 2012 photo, the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) Surge Barrier, constructed after Hurricane Katrina to prevent tidal surges from hurricanes from reaching New Orleans, is seen in St. Bernard Parish, La. The Army Corps of Engineers wasgiven about $14 billion to improve flood defenses after Katrina. The majority of the new post-Katrina work has been completed and the corps says the city is ready to handle a storm that experts say would resemble a Category 3 hurricane. (AP Photo/Gerald H
Preparations Continue for Isaac in New Orleans
New Orleans, LA (WBEN) As the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, the Crescent City is preparing for Isaac, with lessons learned from Katrina on their minds.
"People are remaining calm," says Kristian Garic of WWL in New Orleans. "There's not any sense of panic, especially going through this with Katrina almost seven years ago to the day." He says there's a heightened sense of awareness and people are behaving as they're expected to. "Stocking up on essentials, gas in the cars, flashlights, getting ready to deal without power, boarding up their homes, they know what they went through seven years ago," adds Garic.
Garic says the levees should hold up this time. "The levees have been fortified and should withstand (Isaac) and should be up to the task," says Garic, who does note low-lying areas not protected by the levee will have to deal with flooding. "How much storm surge will they get? The forecast is five to eight feet, small compared to Katrina, where they had 25 feet," adds Garic.