Hurricane Ivan appears to be barreling straight towards New Orleans, which is perhaps the most poorly-designed city ever. 
(Venice being a close 2nd.) A head-on strike from a category 4 or category 5 hurricane may be sufficient to spell the practical end to the city. They’ve survived in the past, such as when Camille struck a few decades ago, but with the loss of their barrier islands, they no longer have any protective barrier from storm surge. This may be the ultimately demonstration of the need for sustainable development and respect for natural ecological processes. It’ll be a tough way to learn that lesson.
Too bad. I’d wanted to visit one day.