On November 1 2005, Donald Powell head of the FDIC was appointed by Secretary Chertoff  to head the long term federal effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast and New Orleans.

On November 29th he visited New Orleans for the first time and saw the devastation. He reiterated the President's commitment made in Jackson Square to rebuild the metro New Orleans area. The lead story on all the news services was that he hadn't yet decided whether Cat 5 levee  protection could/should be built. That's probably a non-event since it will still be months before the Corps of Engineers reports on what it would cost if it is possible.

On December 15'th he announced that the levees would be rebuilt better than they were before Katrina including a 17.5 foot height, dry side shielding with rock and riprap, and probably most importantly new state-of-the-art pumping stations at the mouths of three canals (17'th, Orleans, London). A total of $3.1 billion was recommended by the administration.

Congress initially authorized $2.9 billion excluding the pumping stations and the armor shielding.

In April 2006 FEMA provided an advisory that seemed to require every home in New Orleans to be elevated 3 feet above grade (whatever that means). Every announcement is met with panic and Powell is showing remarkable patience in answering questions.

Powell resigned in March 2008.