Drainage systems to combat flooding?

[brentspeak]

I'm no civil engineer. I understand that levees sometimes fail. But what about drainage systems -- no new engineering breakthrough in that department?

[liberalmuse]

1. It's hard to drain anything if you're below sea level.

Though I'm no engineer, either.

[tannybogus]

2. They were using huge pumps during Katrina.

Those failed or never worked. How much do you want to bet they weren't fixed?

[ddeclue]

3. Got to pump water uphill if you are below sea level.

If you have a hundred yard wide levy break (or larger) all the pumps in the world are effectively useless. You have to plug the hole first and pump out the leak second.

Unfortunately it is almost impossible to plug the leak until water levels equalize on opposite sides of the levy break because the water flow keeps pushing the fill material to the low side of the hole.

Doug D.