Nicole Hobson-Smith Executive Director Louisiana State Office of Historic Preservation 1051 North Third Street Baton Rouge,

LA 70802 Dear Ms. Hobson-Smith: I am writing in support of Levees.orgs efforts to have levee breach sites at the 17th Street Canal and the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal listed in the National Register of Historic Places. These breaches devastated the City and neighboring parishes, including my own. These breaches are historic and have national significance. I currently serve as the President of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East, an entity created after and in response to the hurricane. When we were seated as new members, we agreed that we would work tirelessly so that this type of failure would never happen again. Designating these sites would serve as a reminder to future generations that everyone must be committed to that end. The response to the disaster was international and is seared into the countrys collective memory; it is documented visually and historically. The failures caused a reevaluation of engineering design both here and abroad. National response and recovery changes were implemented as a result. The sites themselves are reminders to Orleans Parish citizens and visitors of what happened here, and how it happened. They are important symbols. They should be included on the National Register. If you have any questions, please contact me at the address listed below. Timothy P. Doody President Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East 6508 Spanish Fort Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124