Which statements explain why New Orleans suffered extreme flooding as a result of Hurricane Katrina?

Choose all answers that are correct.

A.

No one expected a hurricane in New Orleans, so the city had no defenses.

B.

Government agencies had no idea that the city’s levees were in need of repair.

C.

Half of all of New Orleans’s parishes were built at or below sea level.

D.

The waters of Lake Pontchartrain rose rapidly and breeched the levees.

Answer: The statements that explain why New Orleans suffered extreme flooding as a result of Hurricane Katrina are B. Government agencies had no idea that the city’s levees were in need of repair and C. Half of all of New Orleans’s parishes were built at or below sea level.

Explanation: One of the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which formed in 2005, was the extreme flooding which took place in New Orleans. One of the reasons why the city suffered this flooding was because government agencies were not aware of the fact that New Orleans' levees needed to be repaired. Moreover, the fact that many New Orleans' parishes had been built at or below sea level was another factor that contributed to this extreme inundation. By August 31, 2005, 80% of New Orleans was flooded. Therefore, B. and C. are the correct answers.