This picture is taken from near the Entergy Generator Plant.
The 2 pillars that you can see are the I-510 overpass supports over the Inter-coastal
Waterway.    I-510 runs from I-10/Chef Menteur to the Chalmette Hwy.   The wall
of water that you see is coming from the Gulf, across St. Bernard Parish and Lake Borgne.
This is the storm surge that crossed St. Bernard and came into the 9th
ward of Orleans Parish. The open waters of the Gulf Coast are 80-85
miles away from this location. This particular storm surge had to
cross at least 40 miles of land (St. Bernard Parish) before you see it
here. The pillars are the bridge supports of I-510 and are approx. 400
feet high. I hope that this gives you some prospective of the size and
nature of the natural forces with which the people in South Louisiana
were dealing.

The point is that no coastal city in the United States today is prepared
for a storm (tidal) surge as displayed here. Remember this was not on
the coast but at least 80 to 85 miles from the open Gulf waters, the
last 40 miles over land that this tidal wave surged.