Question

In his neighborhood, miles from the closest levee, the water had risen slowly enough that he knew it was unlikely that anyone had died in the flood. But with a shudder he thought of those closer to the breaches. He didn’t know where the levees had failed, but he knew anyone living nearby would have been quickly overwhelmed.

What is happening in the excerpt?
Zeitoun is assessing the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Zeitoun is realizing the likelihood of flood casualties.
Zeitoun is hoping that his neighbors had time to react to the flood.
Zeitoun is remembering the warnings about the levees.

Answer 1

Zeitoun is realizing the likelihood of flood casualties. He recognizes his own neighborhood was likely safe but worries that people nearer the levee breaches would have been quickly overwhelmed.