It was the levee failure in New Orleans, during Katrina, that created the massive flood damage in that area. Levees are designed to reduce the risk of flooding for us and our communities. Yet no design is without flaw and levees do not eliminate the risk of flooding which can be catastrophic. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps the risks behind levees, but they do not design, build, operate, maintain or certify that the levees provide a specific level of protection. Living below a levee or Dam means living with the risk. For peace of mind it is best to be protected.