I've never been to New Orleans. A year ago I heard an NPR piece on New Orleans and the feat of mechanical engineering required to keep the city, which is below sea level, from being flooded on a daily basis. It was said to be likely that one day a large storm would hit the coast of Louisiana and leave the city unlivable. I remember thinking, "I'd better visit New Orleans before it's under water."

I seem to be so accustomed to the power of human intervention, that I'm practically incredulous that the weather could be so dsruptive to our most advanced civilization.