The Crumbling of the American Empire After World War Two, the American economy was booming. President Eisenhower built the national highway system for economic and defense purposes. The cost of construction has been estimated at $425 billion, as of 2006. In 2011, we find ourselves driving on an obsolete system. Massive traffic jams, deteriorating roads and bridges, and the financial burden are just a few issues our country faces today. The slow response of FEMA after hurricane Katrina, brought the poor condition of our government’s ability to handle disaster into the public’s eye. Monday, August 29, 2005 at 7:00 a.m. hurricane Katrina makes landfall as a category four storm. The day before the Louisiana National Guard requested 700 buses for the evacuation, FEMA only sent 100. Approximately 30,000 people gather at the Silver dome, with only thirty-six hours worth of food and water. The U.S.S. Bataan sits offshore awaiting relief orders. It has helicopters, doctors, food, water, 600 hospital beds, and the capability to make up to 100,000 gallons of water a day. The government failed to utilize its assets in this time of great need. The Wolf Creek Dam is located in south central Kentucky on the Cumberland River. Design and construction started in 1938 and was completed in 1952. Lake Cumberland was created by the dam, it is the largest reservoir east of the Mississippi River, and the ninth largest in the United States. In 1968, muddy flows in the tailrace and two sinkholes found in the embankment, indicated a severe seepage problem. From 1968 to 1970, a grouting project was started, this saved the dam, but was