Though the tone is unusually civil, critics are sharpening their knives in Louisiana as recovery starts in flooded areas outside the circle of defenses that protected New Orleans from Hurricane Isaac's storm surge on Aug. 26-29.
A mid-day situation report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Valley Division indicates all "major" structures flood control structures in the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System are closed, including the West Closure Complex.