Heath Jones

And I'm Mary Childs. A couple decades ago, Wendell Kural found himself at a fork in the road. On one path, he could stay within the framework the federal government had laid out to build these hurricane defenses. And on the other, he could create his own path, building his levees as high as possible, as fast as possible, in a race against larger and larger storms.

And I'm Mary Childs. A couple decades ago, Wendell Kural found himself at a fork in the road. On one path, he could stay within the framework the federal government had laid out to build these hurricane defenses. And on the other, he could create his own path, building his levees as high as possible, as fast as possible, in a race against larger and larger storms.

And I'm Mary Childs. A couple decades ago, Wendell Kural found himself at a fork in the road. On one path, he could stay within the framework the federal government had laid out to build these hurricane defenses. And on the other, he could create his own path, building his levees as high as possible, as fast as possible, in a race against larger and larger storms.

And he knew his decision could mean life or death for over 10,000 people.

And he knew his decision could mean life or death for over 10,000 people.

And he knew his decision could mean life or death for over 10,000 people.

Growing up in southern Louisiana, the specter of hurricanes hung over everything. Over the last century and a half, whole towns here have been decimated and ultimately abandoned after flooding from hurricanes. Wendell's own great-grandparents had to resettle after a hurricane in 1893 flooded their town and killed half the population.

Growing up in southern Louisiana, the specter of hurricanes hung over everything. Over the last century and a half, whole towns here have been decimated and ultimately abandoned after flooding from hurricanes. Wendell's own great-grandparents had to resettle after a hurricane in 1893 flooded their town and killed half the population.

Growing up in southern Louisiana, the specter of hurricanes hung over everything. Over the last century and a half, whole towns here have been decimated and ultimately abandoned after flooding from hurricanes. Wendell's own great-grandparents had to resettle after a hurricane in 1893 flooded their town and killed half the population.

And one of the first things Wendell learned about the job was that it entailed a close partnership with the part of the federal government that builds these levee systems, the Army Corps of Engineers.

And one of the first things Wendell learned about the job was that it entailed a close partnership with the part of the federal government that builds these levee systems, the Army Corps of Engineers.

And one of the first things Wendell learned about the job was that it entailed a close partnership with the part of the federal government that builds these levee systems, the Army Corps of Engineers.

To hear the story of how this branch of the military got put in charge of the nation's flood protection, we called up Heath Jones. He's the emergency manager for the Corps' New Orleans district. And apparently something of a Star Wars fan.

To hear the story of how this branch of the military got put in charge of the nation's flood protection, we called up Heath Jones. He's the emergency manager for the Corps' New Orleans district. And apparently something of a Star Wars fan.

To hear the story of how this branch of the military got put in charge of the nation's flood protection, we called up Heath Jones. He's the emergency manager for the Corps' New Orleans district. And apparently something of a Star Wars fan.

Their logo is actually a little castle.

Their logo is actually a little castle.

Their logo is actually a little castle.

Their job was to help bring all the products of America's burgeoning breadbasket down to the port of New Orleans and out to the rest of the world. And by the late 1920s, the Corps was also drafted into building systems to fight floods.

Their job was to help bring all the products of America's burgeoning breadbasket down to the port of New Orleans and out to the rest of the world. And by the late 1920s, the Corps was also drafted into building systems to fight floods.