City of New Orleans Prepares for Aftermath of Tropical Storm Barry

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

July 14, 2019


Contact: LaTonya Norton

For Media Inquiries Only
communications@nola.gov
(504) 658-4962

City of New Orleans Prepares for Aftermath

of Tropical Storm Barry

NEW ORLEANS — City of New Orleans agencies and partners today began responding to the aftermath of Tropical Storm Barry as it passed by New Orleans on Saturday. The City remains under a Flash Flood Watch until 7 p.m. Sunday.


"We absolutely made it through the storm. Beyond lucky, we were spared. We understand that our brothers and sisters who are in surrounding parishes were less lucky in some instances. However, the support from the City of New Orleans has been consistent, and we will remain so as it relates to meeting the needs of our surrounding parishes," Mayor Cantrell said. "As we've been asked to do, we will continue to respond and follow through. The tropical storm threat is over, but rain remains a possibility. Tropical bands with heavy rains could continue to effect the area."


Because of the potential for flooding, City Hall,  New Orleans Public Library, New Orleans Recreation Development facilities and all administrative City agencies remained closed Sunday. All agencies are expected to open Monday with regular hours of operation.


Click here to watch Mayor Cantrell's press conference.


SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY (SLFPA) EAST: Field crews will continue the process of reopening floodgates in several areas around Orleans Parish. Today crews will be dispatched to open the following Orleans Parish floodgates:

  • All gates along Lakeshore Drive
  • Key river gates along the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal
  • More rail line gates for CSX, Public Belt, Norfolk Southern

Gate openings will continue Monday, July 15, as the Flood Protection Authority -- East will resume normal business operations. All employees will report as normally assigned. As a reminder, we have received several reports from our field crews that vehicles are parked in front of floodgates. SLFPA is asking anyone who has a parked vehicle in front of or near a floodgate to remove them immediately, as this impedes on public safety and the agency's ability to effectively manage the floodgates.


In the event a vehicle is blocking access to a floodgate, law enforcement can use the agency's towing service in order to allow the opening of the gate. You can find status updates of all floodgates on the Levee Information Management System (LIMS). A link to LIMS is on the website www.floodauthority.org under the “Storm Updates” tab on the homepage.

 

Public Safety Preparations Continue

NEW ORLEANS OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (NOHSEP): City officials will resume damage assessments and building inspections tomorrow morning related to Wednesday’s heavy rain event. If your home or business experienced flooding greater than 12 inches or if any electrical or mechanical equipment had water, please call the Department of Safety and Permits at 311. If you need help mucking and gutting, call the Crisis CleanUp Hotline at 1-844-965-1386. Local community organizations are available to assist. More recovery information, including how to file a flood insurance claim and how to clean up safely, is available at https://ready.nola.gov/incident/potential-tropical-cyclone/recovery-information.

NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Pre-staged barricades have been removed from flood-prone areas. The I-610 East exit to Franklin Avenue has been reopened. We will continue to monitor the situation, and if necessary, we are prepared to close problematic streets/and underpasses. NOPD continues to monitor the upcoming rainfall and is prepared to close problematic streets/underpasses. Through the Flash Flood Watch, residents are reminded to never drive through flooded areas and to call 9-1-1 to report major flooding on the road. Motorists who drive faster than 5 mph on streets with standing water are subject to fines. A map of reported street flooding is available at streetwise.nola.gov.


NEW ORLEANS FIRE DEPARTMENT (NOFD): Between 7:01 a.m. (Saturday) and 7 a.m. (Sunday), NOFD responded to 135 requests for assistance; none were working fires. All mandatory recalled personnel have been released from duty. As a precaution, NOFD will maintain a heightened level staffing until at least 7 a.m. Monday, July 15. All high-water vehicles and rescue boats have been placed out of service. A contingent of NOFD personnel has been dispatched to Plaquemines Parish to assist with the sheltering of evacuees. NOFD members are also assisting at the city’s Rosenwald shelter. Both groups will remain in service until the shelters have been closed. 


ORLEANS PARISH COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT (OPCD):
 Expected to return to normal staffing (Level 1) at 7 p.m. today, if not sooner. NCIC functions have returned to NOPD headquarters. No 9-1-1 service outages have been reported during this event. OPCD telecommunicators have and continue to work diligently during this weather event, processing 9,226 emergency and non-emergency calls from New Orleans residents. Of those calls, there were 2,569 emergency calls, 686 non-emergency calls and 5,971 NOLA-311 calls. Of the 2,569 emergency calls, 99 percent were answered within 15 seconds. 9-1-1 services and 3-1-1 services will continue to be available 24/7 both by phone and the Web.


NEW ORLEANS HEALTH DEPARTMENT: The New Orleans Health Department remains committed to protecting the health and safety of our residents with medical and mobility needs. We have seen no major impacts to any local hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout this storm. We have not received any reports of people who were unable to stay in their homes due to power outages. The New Orleans Health Department would like to thank our partners, including NORDC, New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, World Central Kitchen, New Orleans EMS, New Orleans Fire Department, New Orleans Police Department, New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps, Evacuteer and CERT teams for assisting in sheltering and call center operations.


NEW ORLEANS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS): Assigned additional personnel and one ambulance to assist neighbors in Plaquemines Parish with sheltering needs and medical coverage. EMS remains stationed at the Rosenwald shelter, continuing to provide medical coverage to our residents until the shelter is demobilized. All of EMS high-water assets will remain in service until noon today. To the residents and visitors of New Orleans, we sincerely thank you for heeding the emergency warnings throughout this event and taking the advice of emergency officials in preparation for this storm.


MOSQUITO, TERMITE & RODENT CONTROL BOARD (NOMTCB): Urges residents to take measures to empty containers and avoid mosquito bites.


Given the large amount of recent rainfall, it is imperative for residents to remain vigilant in removing standing water by emptying containers and changing water in containers that cannot be removed. Mosquitoes can develop from egg to adult in seven-day period in warmer months, so it is important to inspect yards on a weekly basis. Remove trash and clutter, including discarded tires, buckets, tarps and any other items that could collect water. Make sure swimming pools and fountains are operational and circulating.


No human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been reported in Orleans Parish this year. WNV cycles between wild birds and mosquitoes and can be transmitted to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. While the majority of West Nile virus infections are asymptomatic, the virus can cause serious symptoms, especially for those above 65 years old and older or in people that are immunocompromised. However, NOMTCB urges residents of New Orleans to protect themselves from mosquito bites. While outside, use EPA-approved repellents, wear long sleeves and pants, and considering using fans to keep mosquitoes away from sitting areas. To avoid mosquitoes from entering your residence, keep windows and door screens in good repair.


The City will continue to monitor mosquito populations and implement control measures, including educating citizens through community outreach, source reduction, and treating for larval and adult mosquitoes. 

 

SAFETY TIPS

Protecting Yourself

  • Reduce mosquito exposure by limiting outdoor activities at dusk and dawn.
  • Use air-conditioning and make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquitoes from getting inside.  
  • If outside for long periods of time, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.
  • The CDC recommends using repellents containing EPA-registered active ingredients including DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon-eucalyptus.
  • When using repellent, always follow the recommendations on the product label.

Protecting Your Home

  • Eliminate standing water around your home.
  • Remove trash and clutter, dispose of discarded tires and containers that can hold water. Turn over wading pools, buckets, trash cans, children's toys or anything that could collect water.
  • Change water weekly in containers that cannot be removed, such as pet dishes or bird baths. Scrub the side of the containers each we to remove the eggs that have been deposited.
  • Rain barrels and other water collection devices must be screened and collected water should be used within one week.
  • Aerate ornamental pools, fountains and sugar kettles or stock them with mosquito-eating fish.
  • Report illegal dumping and unattended swimming pools and by calling 311.
  • Call 311 to report mosquito problems.

Tires are easily filled with water by rain and collect leaf litter, providing a suitable location for mosquito larvae. Properly disposing unwanted tires will eliminate mosquito habitat.

  • Residents can place up to 4 tires on the second trash pick-up, stacked curbside along with their household trash.
  • Tires in front of abandoned lots will not be collected; they must be moved in front of a residence with curbside collection.
  • Residents can also bring up to 5 tires to the City’s Recycling Drop-off Center on the second Saturday of each month which is located at 2829 Elysian Fields Avenue between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Report mosquito issues

Report mosquito issues by calling 311.  

 

For additional information regarding West Nile virus, visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm.

 

Visit the state and city’s websites for more information.

www.nola.gov/mosquito

www.nola.gov/zika

 


Infrastructure Work Continues

SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD OF NEW ORLEANS (SWBNO): New Orleans’ drainage system was in a constant state of readiness throughout this event, and it handled the rain as expected. The strongest part of that system is the men and women of the Sewerage and Water Board. Their experience, vigilance and dedication, was critical to the agency's success. The city’s pumps, power and manpower remain operational, and SWBNO is watching the weather as Barry continues to impact the area. SWBNO has 117 pumps available for use and can generate more than 77 megawatts of power. The drainage system needs about 50 megawatts to run at full go.

ENTERGY LOUISIANA: Prepared to respond to any power outages caused in the New Orleans area due to the storm. More information is available at entergystormcenter.com. Residents can download the app at entergyapp.com and sign up for text alerts by texting REG to 368374.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (DPW): Will begin reinstating parking restrictions at 8 am Monday (July 15) morning. The Department continues to clean and unclog catch basins, as well as flush drain lines in flood-prone areas. Today, four vac truck crews and four asphalt crews supporting catch basin cleaning will be operating and responding to 311 generated tickets around the city.


Yesterday, DPW had four vac truck crews and four asphalt crews supporting catch basin cleaning around the city.


Parking restrictions on neutral grounds and sidewalks remain suspended until 9 a.m. Monday, July 15. Residents are reminded not to block intersections or streetcar tracks. DPW will continue to remove stranded vehicles that are making roadways impassable. Residents whose vehicles have been moved should call 3-1-1 for information on retrieval. Residents with stranded vehicles that are impeding the roadway are expected to move their vehicles to the side of the road, preferably a parking lane, immediately.

 

DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY & PERMITS (DSP): A major factor in urban flooding is debris clogging storm drains. DSP asks that any storm drains near job sites are free of any debris and that any potential wind-or water-borne materials or debris are removed from the job site or secured in advance of any weather systems. Do not place construction materials or debris on the curb.

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND PARKWAYS: Crews remain on alert to respond and are preparing to return to normal operations. Here is a breakdown of Saturday's work:


Crews responded to emergency calls for service:

- 12 Emergency tree removals
- 14 Emergency major leaders/branches cleared

Event totals – 73 calls for service:

- 23 Emergency tree removals
- 47 Emergency major leaders/branches cleared


THE DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION: Continues to remove debris on public property in coordination with other departments and agencies. Today, garbage and recycling collections are suspended as follows:


Inside of the French Quarter and Downtown Development District:

Empire Services -- Sunday Evening Collection


Residents and small businesses are reminded that they are to secure their carts on their properties between collections. There should not be any carts/bins, bags or other debris curbside when collections are not scheduled to occur. City-contracted garbage and recycling collections will resume on Monday, according to regular schedules. Residents are advised not to place carts, bags or contained debris curbside before 4 p.m. for collection on the evening before a scheduled collection is to occur. Debris from properties that experienced flooding should not be placed curbside until Monday, weather permitting.