Ten years ago, Levees.org unmasked the Corps of Engineers online attack campaign

A former federal prosecutor who worked for US Attorney Jim Letten was recently disbarred for comments he made online using an alias in New Orleans.

Sal Perricone’s comments on the Times-Picayune newspaper’s website, NOLA.com resulted in Letten’s resignation and several new trials.

Times have changed. Ten years ago, this exact sort of behavior resulted in a wrist slap.

After Hurricane Katrina, multiple people with the Army Corps of Engineers engaged in the same behavior as Mr. Perricone did.

Specifically, corps personnel – persons in a position of public trust ­– were disguising their identities, pretending to be objective onlookers and using NOLA.com’s user-engagement features to viciously attack anyone who criticized the corps.

One of their targets was me and the grassroots group Levees.org which I founded with my fifteen year old son after the levees broke.

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Photos of Search & Rescue needed for Flooded House Museum

Photo/Cheryl Gerber

Levees.org is reaching out to its supporters for photos of Search and Rescue operations after the levees broke in New Orleans in August 2005.

Photos will be featured in the Flooded House Museum.

Photos must be owned by the donor.

The photos can be of professionals (e.g. fire department and/or National Guard) or citizens assisting.

Please send digital photos – including location and date – to sandy@levees.org

OTHER NEWS: On Saturday March 23, 2019, Levees.org will cut the ribbon on the Flooded House Museum in the Filmore Gardens neighborhood of Gentilly by the London Avenue Canal breach site. Volunteer artists are preparing to distress the staged exhibit of the museum located at 4918 Warrington Drive.

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Flooded House Museum

Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans

The office of the mayor has confirmed that LaToya Cantrell is scheduled to appear at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Flooded House Museum.

RIBBON CUTTING: Sat Mar 23 at 10a at 4918 Warrington Drive

Levees.org is converting a flooded residence – steps away from the London Avenue Canal breach site – into an educational memorial.

The museum quality plaques will tell the chronological story of the flood, starting with the day before the levees broke.

The Flooded House Museum is a unique project that required a special permit from the New Orleans City Planning Commission.

In 2016, Levees.org purchased the gutted house and – in partnership with the neighborhood residents –obtained the special permit.

Volunteer contractors installed walls, a doorway and a foyer to give dimension to the flooded remains. Then, volunteer artists staged the room using donated furniture, fixtures and items from dozens of Levees.org supporters.

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