I realize that it is probably a good idea to start off by explaining to the uninitiated, who might be confused by the title, that a levee is an embankment built on the shore of a river to protect the surrounding land from flooding when, as so often happens, the water level rises and threatens nearby homes, businesses, and farms with inevitable inundation. It is classic human preparation for the unexpected rainy day (or season) that can lead to catastrophe, and humanity has been building levees since we stopped being hunter-gatherers and discovered that the most fertile land is often adjacent to a river, which also provides a handy source of water when drought hits and threatens the harvest. Planning for the worst is, in short, a wise survival mechanism—just as inviting disaster by failing to prepare is incredibly foolhardy. Read more