City of New Orleans Provides Updates on Public Safety Preparedness Measures Ahead of Severe Winter Weather

The City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) continues to closely monitor severe winter weather expected to impact the New Orleans area significantly beginning Tuesday, Jan. 21. Residents are urged to stay weather-aware and to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety as significant snowfall and hazardous conditions are forecast.  

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), New Orleans is expected to see approximately three to six inches of snowfall starting in the early morning hours on Tuesday, from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Snowfall is expected to persist throughout the day, tapering off between 9 p.m. and midnight. The heaviest snowfall is expected between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.  

This snowfall is expected to create hazardous road conditions, with temperatures unlikely to rise enough to melt the snow until Thursday. As a result, City officials are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution and avoid travel.  

In response to the winter weather, Mayor LaToya Cantrell has issued an Emergency Declaration allowing City agencies to implement comprehensive preparedness and response measures. This includes the potential for additional state and federal resources to be deployed to support City efforts.  

“We are battle tested and work to be better every day, and our team stands ready to face this historic weather event,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.  

Out of an abundance of caution, City Hall will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 21, due to extremely cold temperatures expected across the New Orleans area.  

Visit Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Instagram to view today’s winter weather press conference.  

TAKE PRECAUTIONS  

Residents are advised to take appropriate measures to protect themselves from the potential dangers of cold weather. Residents are urged to: 

• Bring pets and plants inside and check on neighbors, especially the elderly. 
• Do not leave space heaters unattended, and do not use stoves or ovens for heating. 
• Ensure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning.  

CITYWIDE FREEZE PLAN ACTIVATION  

The Citywide Freeze Plan activation will continue until at least Thursday, Jan. 23. The freeze plan is in effect to provide temporary overnight shelter for homeless residents and a warming center for any residents in need. If you know someone who needs shelter during the cold weather, call 3-1-1.   

Individuals needing shelter will be accepted, free of charge, at the following locations: 

• The Salvation Army, 4526 S. Claiborne Ave.  
• New Orleans Mission, 1130 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. has space for 50 people, men or women.   
• Ozanam Inn, 2239 Poydras St., has space for 10 women. Call 3-1-1 or call Ozanam Inn directly at 504-523-1184.

Individuals in need of a warming center may visit the following: 

• Rosenwald Recreation Center, 1120 S. Broad Ave.

Additional shelter updates: 

• Lower Barrier Shelter, 1530 Gravier St., is currently at full capacity

ROADWAYS AND BRIDGES 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) are preparing to address hazardous road conditions. Hazardous conditions are expected, particularly on elevated roadways and bridges. Dump trucks with sand and salt will be deployed, but residents are urged to stay home if possible.  

In the event of a traffic accident not involving injuries, call 504-821-2222.  

SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD NEW ORLEANS (SWBNO)  

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) advises residents to protect their pipes as temperatures drop below freezing. As the outdoor temperature approaches freezing (32 degrees), turn on the indoor faucet furthest away from your water meter. Run only one faucet with no more than a trickle of water, about as thin as a standard strand of spaghetti, to minimize the chance of water freezing in your pipes.   

Once temperatures climb above freezing, be sure to turn off your faucet. Running it at temperatures above freezing does not protect your pipes. Learn more at Fighting The Freeze. 

As of this morning, 88 of 93 drainage pumps are operational and 70 megawatts of 25hz power are available. Turbines 4, 5 and 6 are available. For real-time updates, visit the Pumping & Power Dashboard. 

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS  

In response to the winter weather, Entergy’s customer care centers will remain closed through at least Wednesday. Disconnects are suspended through Sunday, Jan. 26.  

Entergy encourages customers to update their contact information online at Entergy New Orleans to receive important weather-related alerts via text or mobile. Stay safe, stay warm, and stay off the roads, when possible, to prevent outages caused by vehicle impacts.   

REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (RTA)  

Due to forecasted weather conditions, RTA is suspending all services starting Monday evening until potentially mid-day Thursday, with daily assessments to determine if service can be restored sooner.   

• Ferry service will suspend at its regular time (8:45 PM) on Monday.   
• Bus, streetcar, and para-transit services will begin suspending operations at 11p.m. tonight.

RTA customer service offices will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and will reopen when conditions permit.  Service suspension updates will be communicated via social media and the Le Pass app. 

SANITATION  

Citywide trash and recycling collections have been suspended for Tuesday, Jan. 21.  The Department of Sanitation will monitor the weather forecast and provide updates on resuming services.   

NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT  

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is continuing to monitor weather conditions. Travelers are encouraged to check individual airline websites for the latest information on delays and cancellations.  

READY.NOLA.GOV  

Updates on winter weather and local impacts will be available at ready.nola.gov. Residents are encouraged to follow @NOLAReady on Twitter and sign up for email and text message alerts at http://ready.nola.gov/stay-connected/emergency-alerts/. For more information on winter weather preparedness, visit http://ready.nola.gov/plan/winter/.   

IMPORTANT NUMBERS TO KNOW  

• For life threatening emergencies and downed power lines, call 911  
• For real-time traffic and road conditions, call 511  
• Report downed traffic signals, call 504-821-2222  
• To report power outages, call 1-800-968-8243 (1-800-9OUTAGE)  
• To report water emergencies, call 504-529-2837 (504-52WATER)