NEW ORLEANS & KATRINA
'(<a href="http://www.j-archive.com/media/2010-05-20_J_29.jpg" target="_blank">Sarah of the Clue Crew reports from New Orleans, LA.</a>)  The largest design build civil works project in the history of the army corps of engineers, a giant flood wall is technically called this type of barrier, as it protects against hurricane-driven water levels'
a surge barrier (a storm surge barrier accepted)