Funding for hurricane preparedness of New Orleans

The adequacy of funding for hurricane preparedness of New Orleans has been questioned in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Since 2001, many U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requests for hurricane protection projects have been cut back or delayed. Critics charge that these cutbacks were a direct result of funding for the Iraq war and the Bush Administration's tax cuts. Others argue that it is common for projects like these to be underfunded and even had the remaining 25% of funding requests been filled, it would not have helped New Orleans withstand a category 4 hurricane. Ironically, Haley Barbour, governor of heavily affected Mississippi, was head of the Republican National Committee at the time funds for FEMA and Flood control were being cut, as well as Louisiana National Guard being sent to Iraq.