NEW ORLEANS -- Some good may have come from the destruction wrought by Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans. The storm provided the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers their first, real opportunity to put their gates and pumps to the test, according to WDSU-TV.

The main pumps in question were those at the 17th Street and London Avenue outfall canals.

Col. Al Lee said that, “the gates and the pumps worked as designed. Lee is in charge of the New Orleans District.

The Corps reports that the pumps kept the canal water levels below the safe water elevations and allowed the Sewerage and Water Board to operate its pumping stations unrestricted.

Engineers said that gates also prevented the Lake Pontchartrain surge from entering the canals.

The gates and pumps at the Orleans Avenue canal weren’t turned on because the water level never reached unsafe levels.

Commanders said that the communication between the Corps and the S&WB worked seamlessly throughout the storm.

During hurricane season, the Corps tests the pumps and gates at the three outfall canals bi-weekly. When a hurricane or tropical storm approaches, the Corps conducts a readiness test of all equipment.