New Orleans seeks $ 77 billion for Katrina damage

NEW ORLEANS, Mar 2 (Reuters) New Orleans filed a claim seeking 77 billion dollars from the US Army Corps of Engineers for damages caused by flooding after Corps-built levees collapsed during Hurricane Katrina.

The claim had to be filed by a Thursday night deadline to preserve the city's right to sue the agency if necessary to recover Katrina-related damages.

''It's certainly an attempt to protect the city's interest,'' city hall spokesman James Ross said of the huge claim..

Long lines of people snaked around the Corps' New Orleans headquarters on Thursday as residents of the devastated city submitted their personal damage claims ahead of the deadline.

At least 30,000 claims are expected to be filed, the Corps has said.

They may be incorporated into lawsuits that have accused the Corps of building shoddy levees that failed to protect the city when Katrina struck on August 29, 2005.

Water poured through the burst levees and flooded 80 percent of New Orleans. More than 1,300 people died in the storm and much of the city still lies damaged and abandoned.

A Corps spokeswoman said she had no information on the city's claim and could not discuss any pending legal action.

Reuters DH VP0655