I did a lot of reseach on this subject soon after the hurricane, and if you noticed my response in the thread you linked, I dragged the clue in front of Bowser like a dead sturgeon on a rope. Went clean past Bowser. Tony got it, but didn't think it was important.

A lot of people were worried about storm surge forcing lake water over the tops of flood walls. Such a condition is temporary, and sometimes flood controls systems like pumps and such can even handle it in real time.

To the best of my knowledge, not ONE person predicted that the bottom would blow out of a flood wall (later investigation showed that the basic design was flawed). In that situation, the flooding continues until either the breach is closed or the level of the water on both sides is the same. Much more serious than an "overtopping" threat.

The AP confused these two conditions, IMO on purpose. I must admit I enjoyed seeing their noses rubbed in it. One wonders what would have happened if the internet had not existed.

Popular Mechanics has collected quite a lot of information here.