Heath Jones

But if the value of homes and businesses is high enough, they may propose building something bigger, like a series of levees.

But if the value of homes and businesses is high enough, they may propose building something bigger, like a series of levees.

And that is exactly what happened to Wendell's community in South Lafourche. Back in the mid-1960s, the Army Corps determined that it would be worth the estimated initial $5.5 million in federal investment to build a system of levees around this part of South Louisiana.

And that is exactly what happened to Wendell's community in South Lafourche. Back in the mid-1960s, the Army Corps determined that it would be worth the estimated initial $5.5 million in federal investment to build a system of levees around this part of South Louisiana.

And that is exactly what happened to Wendell's community in South Lafourche. Back in the mid-1960s, the Army Corps determined that it would be worth the estimated initial $5.5 million in federal investment to build a system of levees around this part of South Louisiana.

Now, Wendell's job as the head of the levee district was to partner with the Army Corps to build this massive ring of levees around his community. He had to raise funds every year to keep construction going.

Now, Wendell's job as the head of the levee district was to partner with the Army Corps to build this massive ring of levees around his community. He had to raise funds every year to keep construction going.

Now, Wendell's job as the head of the levee district was to partner with the Army Corps to build this massive ring of levees around his community. He had to raise funds every year to keep construction going.

Because the way the system was designed, local organizations like his were responsible for paying around 30 percent of the costs of any Army Corps project in order for the feds to pick up the rest.

Because the way the system was designed, local organizations like his were responsible for paying around 30 percent of the costs of any Army Corps project in order for the feds to pick up the rest.

Because the way the system was designed, local organizations like his were responsible for paying around 30 percent of the costs of any Army Corps project in order for the feds to pick up the rest.

But Wendell powered through this incremental, bureaucratic, and occasionally threatening process. And by the early 2000s, nearly three decades after breaking ground, thanks to Wendell and the Army Corps, there was now a dirt fortress around his community, reaching as high as 13 feet.

But Wendell powered through this incremental, bureaucratic, and occasionally threatening process. And by the early 2000s, nearly three decades after breaking ground, thanks to Wendell and the Army Corps, there was now a dirt fortress around his community, reaching as high as 13 feet.

But Wendell powered through this incremental, bureaucratic, and occasionally threatening process. And by the early 2000s, nearly three decades after breaking ground, thanks to Wendell and the Army Corps, there was now a dirt fortress around his community, reaching as high as 13 feet.

The failure of the New Orleans levy system took the country by surprise. And the Army Corps took a lot of the blame for having allowed it to happen.

The failure of the New Orleans levy system took the country by surprise. And the Army Corps took a lot of the blame for having allowed it to happen.

The failure of the New Orleans levy system took the country by surprise. And the Army Corps took a lot of the blame for having allowed it to happen.

The Corps changed their specifications for how thick the levees had to be. Wendell says they started requiring heavier and more expensive clays that often had to be transported from further away.

The Corps changed their specifications for how thick the levees had to be. Wendell says they started requiring heavier and more expensive clays that often had to be transported from further away.

The Corps changed their specifications for how thick the levees had to be. Wendell says they started requiring heavier and more expensive clays that often had to be transported from further away.