I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did anticipate a serious storm. But these levees got breached. And as a result, much of New Orleans is flooded. And now we are having to deal with it and will. - September 1, 2005. [68]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The levee breach was unanticipated despite knowing a storm was coming, leading to flooding in New Orleans.
- In plain terms
- We expected a storm but not the levee break, so New Orleans flooded.
- What can you take from it?
- Infrastructure failures can occur even when threats are predicted.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Why were levee breaches unexpected?
- How do we prepare for known unknowns?
Another view
Claiming lack of anticipation may overlook prior warnings about levee weaknesses.
More from George W. Bush
On United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the worldwide elimination of torture. Freed…
Permalink to quote #187 My thoughts are, we're going to get somebody who knows what they're talking about when it comes to rebuilding cities.
Permalink to quote #189 Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job.
Permalink to quote #190
Related quotes
'He claims,' said Jenny tactfully, 'That he flew through a radioactive cloud thirty years ago and that it didn't do him any harm - thus it's all right to mine …
Helen GarnerHelen Garner quote #1 Such a weapon goes far beyond any military objective and enters the range of very great natural catastrophes. By its very nature it cannot be confined to a mil…
Enrico FermiEnrico Fermi quote #2 But this is no time for gaiety. This is a time to get hold of the folks at the Oregon State Highway division and ask them, when they get done cleaning up the b…
Dave BarryDave Barry quote #2