If the levee hadn't failed?

During questioning from a House committee investigating the response to Hurricane Katrina Louisiana governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco said, "There are always people who believe they are tougher than storms. And you know what, they were right, If the levee hadn't failed, they wouldn't have been in any trouble." If the levee hadn't failed? Is she serious? Shouldn't they have taken that into account when they decided to stay?