Mayor Landrieu Announces Critical Steps
in Tornado Clean Up Effort
NEW
ORLEANS – Today, Mayor
Mitch Landrieu announced that critical steps in the clean-up efforts have begun for tornado damage in New Orleans East. The City,
Governor’s Office, FEMA and the Small Business Administration formed four teams
to canvass the entire impacted area and conduct a preliminary damage assessment
to determine the eligibility of a federal disaster declaration.
The City has
set a 30-day timeline to clear all debris from the impacted area. This will be
completed in three passes by the Department of Sanitation and local, national,
non-profit and faith-based organization volunteers.
In addition
to clean-up efforts, the City, in conjunction with City Council, has introduced
a building permit fee waiver ordinance to ease the burden on impacted
individuals as they begin to rebuild their homes and businesses.
The National
Weather Service confirmed and classified Tuesday’s tornado in New Orleans East
as an EF-3. Approximately 300 properties were severely damaged over the 2-2.5
mile tornado path. Below is a list of efforts the City and its partners have
undertaken since the tornado touchdown. Residents are urged to monitor
ready.nola.gov for up-to-date information.
Public Safety
For the
second night, no major incidents were reported in the impacted area. Beginning
today, Feb. 9 at 3 p.m., New Orleans 7th District Police Department
will resume normal operation. Officers will continue a highly visible, unified, multi-agency patrol including assistance from the Louisiana National Guard and
other state and local partners. At this time, there are no reported fatalities.
Thirty-three injuries have been reported, 31 of which have been treated and
discharged. Two patients remain in the hospital.
Public
safety teams completed two full search and rescue sweeps of the impacted area
and inspected over 5,143 structures.
Temporary Shelter
The
City has opened a temporary shelter at Joe W. Brown Recreation Center (5601
Read Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70127) for impacted residents. Last night, 97
impacted individuals stayed in the shelter. Resources for pets are also
provided but they will not be guaranteed shelter within the facility. Food,
water, cots and blankets are available to those who utilize the shelter
overnight.
The
New Orleans Health Department, with support from the Louisiana Red Cross,
Catholic Charities and New Orleans Fire Department, is providing basic medical
care and prescription assistance. Food, water and cleaning supplies will be
available for pick up.
Tarps
will be distributed by NOFD and other agencies this afternoon by going
door-to-door for those with major roof damage. Tarps will NOT be available for
pickup at Joe Brown.
Entergy
Entergy has
restored power to approximately 7,200 of the 10,400 impacted structures. Crews
are working around the clock and expect to have all power restored by Saturday,
Feb. 11. There are approximately 300 Entergy crew members and contractors
working in the area to assess damage, clear debris on roads and repair the electrical
facilities.
Preliminary
damage reports include roughly 230 damaged and downed poles, 143 damaged
transformers, 50 downed transmission poles (the lines that bring the power from
the power plant to the substations) and 207 spans of downed and damaged
distribution lines (the power lines that provide residents and businesses with
power).
Customers
are encouraged to go to www.entergy.com to
sign up for text messages. Residents may call 1-800-9OUTAGE to report
outages or downed power lines.
School
Closures for Thursday Feb. 10, 2017
- ReNew
Schaumburg Elementary
-
Einstein
Sherwood Forest Elementary: ONLY GRADES PK-2; Grades
3-5 should report to school at Reed High (5316 Michoud Blvd, New Orleans, LA
70129)
Transportation
The
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is restoring service to New Orleans East as
road conditions and hazards are cleared. Some routes remain on detour. The
detours are as follows:
Bus
Route 64-Lake Forest
Service restored to regular route.
Bus Route 65-Crowder/Read
Service restored to regular route.
Bus Route 94-Broad
Service outbound to New Orleans East will terminate at Wilson. Buses will travel on
I-10 to Crowder to Lake Forest to Bullard and return to regular route and continue to
Michoud.
From
Michoud buses will travel to Bullard on regular route to Lake Forest to Crowder
then board I-10 to Ray St. exit and return to regular route.
No
service will be provided between intersection of Chef Menteur/Ray to
intersection of Chef Menteur/Bullard.
RTA
Shuttle Service to shelter at Joe Brown Park:
RTA
is providing shuttle service to the City’s shelter in Joe Brown Park for
residents without transportation.
Pick
up points for Shelter Shuttle Service are as follows:
- Dwyer
Road and Wilson Avenue
- Dwyer
Road and Crowder Boulevard
- Dwyer
Road and Wright Road
The
Following Roads Remain Closed:
Vehicular
traffic restricted: Chef Menteur to Dwyer and Wilson to Bullard
Only
pedestrians with ID are allowed in impacted zones
Police
closure points:
- Chef
Menteur & Read
- Chef
Menteur & Bullard
- Chef
Menteur & Downman
- Chef
Menteur & Bullard
- Chef Menteur & Papania
- Chef Menteur & Wright
- Chef Menteur & Bundy
- Dwyer & Wright
- Dwyer & Read
- Dwyer & Bundy
- Dwyer & Bundy
- Dwyer & Crowder
- Dwyer & Wilson
- Pressburg
& Bullard
RTA does have a
Paratransit vehicle available if needed for residents requiring special transit
services. For more information visit them online at www.norta.com
or call our customer care Rideline at (504) 248-3900.
Other City
Services
Sewerage and
Water Board of New Orleans has dispatched several crews to New Orleans East to
assess tornado-related damages to homes and businesses. Currently, all sewerage
pumps are up and operating. This power outage had no effect on the Carrollton
Water Plant, which supplies the city's tap water. The city's water is safe to
drink.
Entergy,
Parks and Parkways and the Sanitation Department have focused efforts on
reopening Chef Menteur Highway so residents can regain access to the main thoroughfare.
See below for currently cleared roads:
- Cleared:
Crowder between Dwyer and Chef
- Cleared:
Dwyer between Read and Chantilly
- Cleared:
Grant between Wilson and Flake
- Cleared:
Chef between Crowder and Read
- Cleared:
Wilson between Chef and Dwyer
- Cleared:
Bullard between Chef and Dwyer
- Cleared:
Lake Forest between Chef and Read
- Cleared:
Hammond Hwy. between Read and Bundy
- Cleared:
Wright between Chef and Lake Forest
- Cleared:
Bullard between Chef and Lake Forest
Clean Up
The City of
New Orleans Department of Sanitation activated the emergency debris removal
process in the area bounded by Almonaster to the I-10 in New Orleans East.
Eligible debris should be moved to the curb as soon as possible. Only debris
resulting from the recent tornado is eligible for collection by the City or its
contractors in addition to normal garbage and recycling.
Debris
should be separated as follows: regular garbage, vegetative, white goods,
construction debris and household hazardous waste. It would be very helpful, if
clear or green bags were used for vegetative debris to distinguish it from
other garbage.
Debris piles
are not to be placed on neutral grounds, next to utility poles, trees, mail
boxes, electric or water meters, fire hydrants or blocking roadways.
Citizens do
not have to cut and bundle branches in 4 feet lengths during this designated
debris removal period. Leaves should be bagged.
The
Sanitation Department will systematically remove debris from each street. There is no need to call 311 to report debris piles in the designated area.
Sanitation will make three passes for debris removal.
Collection
timelines will take place on the following dates:
- First
Pass: Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 through Monday, Feb. 13. 2017
- Second
Pass: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017 through Friday, Feb. 17, 2017
- Third
Pass: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 through
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017
Collection
crews will work from dawn to dusk each day, pending inclement weather. Each
pass will last for four days. Residents should place all debris and garbage out
on the first day of each pass.
The
Department of Parks and Parkways has forestry crews cutting and stacking downed
trees in the impacted area. Calls for downed trees, street lights, street signs
and other matters should be directed to 311.
Short-Term and Long-Term Housing
Service
providers will be on site at Joe Brown Park to take initial assessments for
short-term and long-term housing needs. The following partners are offering
additional services:
-
Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO) - Assisting existing voucher
holders find replacement housing.
-
Southeast Louisiana Legal - Providing assessments for any legal services
needed.
-
Desire Community Housing Corporation - Counseling for Homeowners.
-
Veterans Affairs - Providing short-term and long-term assistance for Veterans.
-
Total Community Action - Assessments to determine eligibility for assistance.
Volunteers
& Donations
The City of
New Orleans is working with several local, national, non-profit and faith based
organizations to coordinate volunteer opportunities to assist with recovery
efforts. We will continue to update the public with information as it becomes
available. Please check nola.gov for updates regarding volunteering and
donating opportunities. Residents looking to donate to ongoing relief &
recovery efforts are encouraged to contact one of the organizations below.
Again, the shelter at Joe Brown Park is NOT able to accept food, clothing,
other donations or volunteers at this time.
To Donate:
Household
of Faith - Household of Faith is serving as a
drop-off location
and distribution station.
Accepting:
Clothing, toiletries and nonperishable items
Where
to donate: 9300 1-10 Service Road, New Orleans, La. 70127 (504-347-0127)
Second
Harvest - Second Harvest Food Bank will deliver 600 emergency meals
to HOPE the Food Pantry in New Orleans East, which has ceased daily
meal
preparation as a result of tornado-caused power outage.
Accepting:
Non-perishable food items such as canned
vegetables, canned
fruit, canned meat, soups, stews, beans, chili, peanut
butter, pasta, rice,
breakfast cereal and shelf-stable milk. For a full list of
suggested donation
items visit
http://no-hunger.org/suggested-food-donations/.
Where
to donate: 700 Edwards Ave. in the Elmwood
Warehouse District
area
When:
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday
To
make a monetary donation visit
http://no-hunger.org/suggested-food-donations/
New
Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans Tornado Relief Efforts
Working with The United Way, The American Red Cross and The Second
Harvest Food Bank,the Saints and Pelicans have established a collection
point for the public to
drop off non-perishable food items and other
tornado-related items of need.
Accepting:
Non-perishable food items. There is also an immediate need
for towels, blankets, toiletries and clothing, according to the Red Cross.
Where
to donate: Saints Practice Facility Lobby Museum, 5800 Airline
Dr., Metairie, LA 70003
When:
Thursday, Feb. 9
until 5:30 p.m.
City
Church New Orleans
Accepting:
Donations and volunteers and will be providing commodities,
emergency supplies, hot meals, clean-up help and grief counseling.
Accepting:
Monetary donations and physical items including bottled water,
non-perishable
foods, toiletries, flashlights, batteries, baby wipes, band
aids, peroxide, ointment, aspirin and basic first aid items. They are not
accepting clothing.
Where
to donate: Make a financial contribution at citychurchno.com/relief
or by
calling 504-246-5121. Volunteer or bring items by coming to the
church (13123
I-10 Service Road).
St.
Bernard Project (SBP)
Accepting:
To make a monetary donation to SBP's Louisiana Tornado
Recovery Fund, visit
https://donate.sbpusa.org/campaign/Louisiana-Tornado-
Recovery/c118658.
Proceeds will fund SBP's initial damage assessment and begin
rebuilding work
for those most in need.
ReNEW
Schools - ReNEW Schools saw its Schaumberg Elementary
campus damaged
by the tornado.
Accepting:
Monetary donations to support its students and families
are accepted at http://www.renewschools.org/apps/pages/tornado-relief
District
B Council Office, Broadmoor Improvement Association
& VAYLA
These three groups are partnering to provide needed supplies to
affected individuals.
They are collecting needed items in Broadmoor,
and then transporting the
collected supplies to VAYLA's headquarters,
where they will be distributed.
Accepting:
Clean clothes, shoes, socks, children's clothes, baby clothes,
diapers, new toiletries, linens/towels, new underwear, cleaning supplies
& detergent,
flashlights, durable cleanup gloves, plastic tarps,
non-perishable bulk food (no-power friendly), feminine hygiene products,
pet
food and pet shampoo.
Where
to donate: Broadmoor Arts & Wellness Center
(3900
General Taylor St.) (504-249-5130)
When:
Through Friday, Feb. 10 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
Saturday, Feb. 11
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
To
make a monetary donation to VAYLA's rebuilding and construction
efforts,visit https://www.gofundme.com/VAYLATornadoAssistance.
Greater
New Orleans Foundation (GNOF)
Accepting:
To make a monetary donation to the GNOF's Helping Our
Neighbors:Tornado Relief
Fund, click here:
http://www.gnof.org/helping-our-neighbors-tornado-relief-fund/
United
Way of Southeast Louisiana
Accepting:
Monetary donations & seeking volunteers. More information
can be found at: http://www.unitedwaysela.org/tornadorelief.
The
Food Pantry of New Orleans
Accepting:
Donations of non-perishable food items from the
general public. Drop-off at
13040 I-10 Service Road, New Orleans,
LA 70128.
American
Red Cross
Accepting:
To make monetary donations to the American Red Cross
Disaster Relief Fund,
visit redcross.org/donate, or call
1-800-REDCROSS. Financial gifts may also be
sent to your local Red
Cross chapter. For
more updates, follow the Louisiana Region of the
American Red Cross on Twitter at @ARCLousiana. You can also
contact the region at redcross.org/Louisiana or
call 1-800-256-4733.
READY.NOLA.GOV
Citizens are
encouraged to sign up for email and text message alerts
by going to http://ready.nola.gov. This service allows
city officials to
contact citizens during emergencies, which includes
life-threatening
weather events, evacuation or shelter in place information,
and other
pertinent emergency information. In addition to the website, the City
operates a Twitter handle: @nolaready.
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