>> this is where the water level reached in '73. >> reporter: '73. >> yep. >> that was part of the wall that held it back. >> reporter: now a 22-foot wall protects historic downtown morgan city. >> it will be water all the way. it will touch this wall and extend to that wall over there. >> reporter: you're confident about these walls holding up? >> i have to be. yes. have to be. >> reporter: and if for whatever reason they fail? >> total catastrophe. this entire city would flood. >> reporter: national guard soldiers are building up levees around town, and it seems like everyone in these neighborhoods has a boat many the driveway ready to go. gerald will stay on the back porch. you'll silt back here and watch the water creep up? >> pull my chairs over here and sit here and watch, maybe catch some fish. >> reporter: ed lavandera, cnn, morgan city, louisiana. our reynolds wolf is with us now. roenz, tell us more about the