1、 https:/crsreports.congress.gov December 7, 2017Levee Safety and Risk: Status and ConsiderationsLevees can reduce or exacerbate flood risk. Prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, there was little public attention to the safety of the nations levees. The failure of floodwalls (which were designed and co
2、nstructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE) and breaching of levees in and around New Orleans contributed to significant loss of life and economic damage. The events of 2005 led to the enactment of legislation and ongoing efforts to inventory, inspect, and assess U.S. levees. Although t
3、hese efforts have improved understanding of levee safety, significant data gaps remain for many levees in the United States, and many measures to correct identified safety concerns remain uncompleted. Recent floods and dam safety concerns (e.g., Oroville Dam in California) have increased interest in
4、 flood risk among policymakers, including those concerned about federal disaster response and recovery spending. This In Focus covers the evolution of efforts to inventory U.S. levees and assess their risks, and policy considerations for decisionmakers. Safety and Risk: Introduction and History Leve