juiceenewsdaily directs readers to the numerous predictions that New Orleans would be devastated if hit by a major hurricane. I’ve added links to the material all of it still online:
Dr. Joseph Suhayda of LSU had been a driving force behind this research and advocacy of planning for the worst. Suhayda’s worst case scenario was a Category 4 or 5 storm which approached New Orleans directly from the south. In September 2002, the American RadioWorks aired a documentary, “Hurricane Risk for New Orleans“, describing these modeling efforts, the results, and possible long-term solutions. The official budget was highlighted as being far below requirements and was already being considered for increase, but had not been before the arrival of Hurricane Katrina.
Several animations of simulations of the effects of a major hurricane on southeast Louisiana can be found at the January 25, 2005 Louisiana Sea Grant forum website.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune published an award-winning five-part series called “Washing Away” that covered various scenarios (including a Category 5 hurricane hitting the city from the south) and explored the various environmental changes that have increased the area’s vulnerability. One article in the series concluded: “Hundreds of thousands would be left homeless, and it would take months to dry out the area and begin to make it livable. But there wouldn’t be much for residents to come home to. The local economy would be in ruins.”
The American Prospect carried “Thinking Big About Hurricanes” on May 23, 2005. That article described the likely aftermath of a major storm surge. “Soon the geographical “bowl” of the Crescent City would fill up with the waters of the lake, leaving those unable to evacuate with little option but to cluster on rooftops — terrain they would have to share with hungry rats, fire ants, nutria, snakes, and perhaps alligators. The water itself would become a festering stew of sewage, gasoline, refinery chemicals, and debris.”
Popular Mechanics ran a story in September of 2001 called “New Orleans Is Sinking” discussing what might happen if a Hurricane of this size landed on New Orleans.
The June 2005 FX miniseries “Oil Storm” predicted a category 5 hitting New Orleans that forced residents to evacuate and hide out in the Superdome. It went on to speculate a national economic meltdown due to the decreased oil supply.