Heath Jones

But after a couple of years without approval from the Corps, Wendell says he told his engineers to ask for it one more time.

Despite this pressure from the federal government, Wendell kept building. He knew it could mean his levee district would have to pay millions of dollars if the levees were significantly damaged. But Wendell had that different calculation. He saw his job as doing everything he could to prevent his community from getting washed away. So, he says, they could worry about repair costs later.

Despite this pressure from the federal government, Wendell kept building. He knew it could mean his levee district would have to pay millions of dollars if the levees were significantly damaged. But Wendell had that different calculation. He saw his job as doing everything he could to prevent his community from getting washed away. So, he says, they could worry about repair costs later.

Despite this pressure from the federal government, Wendell kept building. He knew it could mean his levee district would have to pay millions of dollars if the levees were significantly damaged. But Wendell had that different calculation. He saw his job as doing everything he could to prevent his community from getting washed away. So, he says, they could worry about repair costs later.

So in addition to the taxes that the citizens of South Lafourche were paying to build and maintain the levee, some were taking on even more of the costs because of Wendell's decision to go rogue. Some people were angry. One person even put up a billboard by the side of a busy road that thanked Wendell for, quote, screwing the levee and the people.

So in addition to the taxes that the citizens of South Lafourche were paying to build and maintain the levee, some were taking on even more of the costs because of Wendell's decision to go rogue. Some people were angry. One person even put up a billboard by the side of a busy road that thanked Wendell for, quote, screwing the levee and the people.

So in addition to the taxes that the citizens of South Lafourche were paying to build and maintain the levee, some were taking on even more of the costs because of Wendell's decision to go rogue. Some people were angry. One person even put up a billboard by the side of a busy road that thanked Wendell for, quote, screwing the levee and the people.

After the break, the tiger of a storm that Wendell had been worrying about finally pounces. And we learn whether Wendell's wager paid off.

After the break, the tiger of a storm that Wendell had been worrying about finally pounces. And we learn whether Wendell's wager paid off.

After the break, the tiger of a storm that Wendell had been worrying about finally pounces. And we learn whether Wendell's wager paid off.

16 years after Hurricane Katrina, in 2021, the storm that Wendell Kural had been worrying about, the reason he and his team had been scrambling to build his levee higher and higher, started gathering strength off the coast of Louisiana.

16 years after Hurricane Katrina, in 2021, the storm that Wendell Kural had been worrying about, the reason he and his team had been scrambling to build his levee higher and higher, started gathering strength off the coast of Louisiana.

16 years after Hurricane Katrina, in 2021, the storm that Wendell Kural had been worrying about, the reason he and his team had been scrambling to build his levee higher and higher, started gathering strength off the coast of Louisiana.

As Ida made landfall, Wendell and several of his co-workers at the levee district decided to wait out the worst of the storm at the local hospital on the third floor. They actually brought rescue boats along with them in case they needed to make their escape by water.

As Ida made landfall, Wendell and several of his co-workers at the levee district decided to wait out the worst of the storm at the local hospital on the third floor. They actually brought rescue boats along with them in case they needed to make their escape by water.

As Ida made landfall, Wendell and several of his co-workers at the levee district decided to wait out the worst of the storm at the local hospital on the third floor. They actually brought rescue boats along with them in case they needed to make their escape by water.

At some point that night, Wendell says the winds died down enough for him and his team to get out onto the roads and inspect the levees and the pump stations. And the first signs were promising. But it wasn't until the next day that he was able to actually see green grass on the ground, to see that his levees had managed to keep the floodwaters out.

At some point that night, Wendell says the winds died down enough for him and his team to get out onto the roads and inspect the levees and the pump stations. And the first signs were promising. But it wasn't until the next day that he was able to actually see green grass on the ground, to see that his levees had managed to keep the floodwaters out.

At some point that night, Wendell says the winds died down enough for him and his team to get out onto the roads and inspect the levees and the pump stations. And the first signs were promising. But it wasn't until the next day that he was able to actually see green grass on the ground, to see that his levees had managed to keep the floodwaters out.

Wendell says the magnitude of all this didn't really hit him until a couple weeks after the storm. By that point, people who'd evacuated had returned and had started picking up the pieces and assessing the damage from all the wind and rain. And as he drove into his neighborhood, he noticed a dozen or so people standing around talking.