The Dutch case is one of many in which low-lying cities and countries with long histories of flooding have turned science, technology and raw determination into ways of forestalling disaster.

London has built floodgates on the Thames River. Venice is doing the same on the Adriatic. Japan is erecting superlevees. Even Bangladesh has built concrete shelters on stilts as emergency havens for flood victims.

"They have something to teach us," said George Z. Voyiadjis, head of civil and environmental engineering at Louisiana State University.

Good story on flood control technology. Its a few days old. I should have memed this earlier. Check it out now before the NYT puts it behind their insipid barrier.