Final answer:
The flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was attributed to the fact that the levee system was not strong enough to withstand the storm surge. Criticism was levied against FEMA and the Bush administration for inadequate preparation and response, revealing economic inequality and racial divisions.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the author of the editorial 'It's Time for a Nation to Return the Favor,' the flooding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina was attributed to the levee system protecting the city not being strong enough. The levees failed during the storm surge despite prior warnings from the Army Corps of Engineers about their potential failure. In addition to the weak levee system, there were issues with emergency services being delayed or disorganized, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with the Bush administration, received criticism for their failed preparations and response to the disaster.
Residents had long demanded more adequate protection against hurricanes, particularly as the storm levees had been built too low and failed to meet safety specifications, leading to the tragic flooding of the lower portions of the city that killed approximately 1,500 people, mostly African Americans. This disaster exposed not only the technical inadequacies but also the underlying economic inequality and racial divisions in the area.
The response to Hurricane Katrina also highlighted problems with federalism and the coordination between levels of government, with Louisiana's governor and the Mayor of New Orleans accusing FEMA of failing to provide necessary assistance and exacerbating problems with bureaucratic hurdles.