"The idea that we are telling people in New Orleans that they have a 100-year level of protection and that they should feel safe is not going to do any good," Galloway said. "The idea that they are safe is not right."
Sandy Rosenthal, founder of Levees.Org, has consistently criticized the corps for its investigation of Katrina and its assurances to the public.
"I was scared to death when I heard the storm was coming," Rosenthal said. She evacuated with her family to Baton Rouge, La.
Although she wishes the corps had moved faster to improve protection in the city, she said, "It looks to me like they are working very hard. There is a political will in Congress to fix the system."
Durham-Aguilera said the corps was trying to get out the message that it could not provide any absolute assurances.
"Whether you are dealing with wild fires or hurricanes or earthquakes," she said, "there is no such thing as a guarantee against risk. "
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ralph. vartabedian@ latimes.com
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Times staff writer Richard A. Serrano contributed to this report.
