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The Army Corps of Engineers said it will meet its deadline to greatly improve the New Orleans area’s hurricane-protection system by the start of the 2011 storm season. The deadline to have New Orleans ready for a major hurricane — or what’s known as a 100-year storm — is June 1. Officials said reaching the milestone will help New Orleans meet minimum standards for flood insurance coverage. Once the Corps completes the $14 billion in work Congress authorized after Katrina, including three large floodgates, the system will be handed over to state and local agencies, which still will need money for routine upgrades. AP

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Hurricane