hope everything goes well for you .

Yufan, Hangzhou, China

Our prayers are with you New Orleans. We are confident that you will make it through

Roy
Toronto Canada

Roy De Sousa, Toronto, Canada

In response to Norrie, from Perth
For someone who doesn't live in this country you really have a strong opinion of whom you think the democrats should have gone with. Obama is the best choice. The future can only be brighter after the last eight years, as long as the republicans stay out fo office.

S. Noble, Ohio, USA

I sincerely hope that this time around, the UK press ( and the BBC in particular) make it clear that the primary response to such disasters lies with the Governors of the individual states concerned, NOT the President.
During Katrina, the BBC's coverage was disgraceful.

Mick McDonald, Birmingham, England

Good luck New Orleans I hope all goes well for you and the rest of the south coast of the USA.

Stay safe
Ernie & Helen
Exmouth Western Australia

Ernie Foster, Exmuth, Australia

What a mess the USA is in. The Democrats got it wrong with Obama (should have been Clinton). The Republicans are in deep trouble and resort to selecting a virtual unknown woman as their potential VP. The future looks bleak for the West if that's all you have to offer after the failed Bush years. GHA

Norrie, Perth, Western Australia

Chas:
Iowa is correct, partially. It was the gimme welfare mentality (this Mississippian understands that concept), PLUS the abject stupidity of elected officials in NO and LO at the time of Katrina that contributed to much of their post storm mess.

Anna, Mississippi, USA

I live on the North Shore of Lake Ponchartrain at Lake Maurepas, about 34 miles (water and swamps) from The City.
We have been seeing local, regional, national, and international coverage of Katrina, a result of the anniversary date. Now we see the next one, Oh Boy! I'm cpncerned.

John Flood, Maurepas, Louisiana

Goodness gracious, sounds just like the Jerry Springer show here. Whatever next! Aren't the papers over there covering the story at all?

Rob, London, UK

The devatation of New Orleans by Katrina was in no small part due to the totally inadequate levees, literally piles of soil with a concrete wall on top. The Dutch are world leaders in flood defences. Why wre they not called in to construct proper barriers ? The levees are still inadequate

Gordon Clifford, Dubai, UAE

because they dont know which way its going to turn yall just dont understand

ashley, metarie,

Some American's lack of compassion for those less fortunate is depressing. It should be remembered that rampant capitalism, e.g. in the reckless development of coastal areas in direct contempt of a senior army engineers (subsequently demoted) recommendations led to the devastating floods.

martyn, calvia , spain

My daughter is in her freshman year at Loyola. We literally just returned Saturday from dropping her off!
She is now being mandatorily evacuated and is heading to Jackson Mississippi. The school made it very clear when she registered that they do not provide evacuation or shelter arrangmenets .

sondrad, Old Saybrook, USA

New Orleans is such a beautiful city, rich in history and culture. I cant believe this could be happening again!

sondrad, Old Saybrook, USA

Iowa - get real! Don't just attribute failure to welfare queens, that's so lame.

Yes, you have worked hard and I commend all those who did, but you just don't understand the LEVEL of damage Katrina did. As someone from KC, I REALLY understand flooding (1993, remember).

Chas, KC, USA

How come this doesn't effect the flight schedules? I thought that they would cancel flights to New Orleans but so far... all flights are scheduled as they were.

Sean, San Francisco, USA

I agree with Rosalie.

Michelle, Dallas, USA

Actually, the "system" has been vastly improved since Katrina, but as the article says - it is untested. Three years is a very short timeframe in terms of building flood defence infrastructure.

Roy, New Orleans,

i live in iowa and it flooded here the whole downtown of cedar rapids and part of iowa city and this place is already almost back to normal because people around here have been working there butts off to help clean up rather than waiting around for stuff to be handed to them....

me, iowa,

It's absolutely crazy to think that man, government, federal, state, or local, can prevent a natural disaster such as a hurricane. It boggles my mind to read comments from people saying that we need more money thrown at the issue. Ms Gray from New Orleans is right on point, "Failure of Welfare".

Stephen Mauk, Prairie Grove , United States

I visited New Orleans in July and got to know a lot of people there, particularly at the Audubon Institute. This is a city that needs to be taken care of, it's a place like no other I've visited and should be treated as such by the Federal Govt. and the state govt. not conveniently forgotten

Keith Thomas, Tavistock, UK

New Orleans needs residents who work & pay taxes instead ofliving every day with their hands out waiting for something free. That city has become the essence of the failure of welfare. I am. Personally tired of wasting money on a city not fit for human habitation.

Rosalie gray, new orleans, usa

The levees are no better than they were pre Katrina.
We've had 3 years to get more concrete levees added around the lake but only piles of dirt have been pushed up in some areas.
the government has spent millions sending help to other countries and to other states.
New Orleans needs more help now

dsullivan, attleboro, USA