|
NEW ORLEANS – The City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) continues to closely monitor the ongoing winter weather event affecting the region. Currently, the National Weather Services (NWS) is reporting that the New Orleans area has accumulated five to seven inches of snowfall, with an additional one to two inches expected throughout the early evening. Snowfall is anticipated to subside by approximately 8 p.m. tonight. An extreme cold warning is in effect overnight tonight.
Freezing temperatures are contributing to hazardous conditions across the city and residents are strongly urged to continue to remain indoors and avoid traveling. Due to freezing temperatures lasting through Wednesday, snow is likely to compact on roadways, leading to slick and icy surfaces and making travel dangerous for motorists and pedestrians alike.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated 24/7 throughout this winter weather event. City Hall will remain closed Wednesday, Jan. 22, through Thursday, Jan. 23 until 12 p.m., due to the winter storm, its hazardous impacts of snowfall and prolonged freezing temperatures. Normal business hours will resume on Thursday at 12 p.m.
The City of New Orleans remains under the Emergency Declaration signed by Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Monday, Jan. 20, allowing City agencies to implement comprehensive preparedness and response measures. This includes the potential for the deployment of additional state and federal resources to support City efforts. Click here to view.
CITYWIDE FREEZE ACTIVATION
Temporary overnight shelters remain available for unhoused residents, and a warming center is available for residents in need. For anyone in need of shelter during this severe winter weather, call 3-1-1.
Individuals in need of a warming center may visit the following:
- Treme Center, 900 N. Villere St.
Additional updates:
- Rosenwald warming center and all other shelters are at full capacity at this time.
ROADS AND BRIDGES
The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), Louisiana State Police (LSP), and the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has proactively implemented road closures to limit travel and help keep residents safe. NOPD is urging residents not to move or attempt to go around barricades, for the safety of themselves and others.
The City has deployed 14 snowplows to clear roads, bridges and highways, beginning with the Crescent City Connection and continuing on other critical roadways.
Click here to access a map of on ramp closures and snow-plow routes. Please note that this is subject to change as the situations develops.
In the event of a traffic accident not involving injuries, call 504-821-2222.
NEW ORLEANS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
As of 2:30 p.m. today, The New Orleans Emergency Medical Center (NOEMS) will be responding to high priority calls only due to hazardous road conditions caused by the winter storm. EMS personnel will continue to assess road conditions throughout the afternoon and early evening to determine when it will be safe for crews to respond to lower acuity calls.
The safety of our EMS crews remains the highest priority during this weather event. We urge residents and visitors of New Orleans to reserve 9-1-1 calls for true medical emergencies only. Non-urgent medical concerns should be addressed once conditions improve and it is safe to do so.
SANITATION
Trash and recycling services have been suspended citywide through Wednesday, Jan. 22 due to the impacts of the severe winter weather. Curbside trash and recycling collection services are currently planned to resume on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Severe Winter Weather Collection Schedule:
Trash and recycling collection will run two days behind schedule for the remainder of the week through Sunday, Jan. 26.
- Trash and recycling collection for Tuesday locations will occur on Thursday
- Trash and recycling collection for Wednesday locations will occur on Friday
- Trash and recycling collection for Thursday locations will occur on Saturday
- Trash and recycling collection for Friday locations will occur on Sunday
For questions or additional information about sanitation services, contact the City’s Department of Sanitation at 3-1-1.
SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD NEW ORLEANS (SWBNO)
Residents are urged to report sewer and water emergencies to 52-WATER. Crews are on standby and will respond as soon as weather conditions permit. SWBNO hotlines will remain available 24/7, 365 days a year.
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS
In response to the winter weather, Entergy’s customer care centers will remain closed through Thursday. Disconnects are suspended through Sunday, Jan. 26. Entergy encourages everyone to stay off the roads, stay warm, safe, and at home!
REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY (RTA)
All RTA transit services (ferry, streetcar, bus, and paratransit) are suspended until at least mid-day Thursday due to hazardous snow and icy conditions. Assessments will be conducted when safe to evaluate the possibility of an earlier service restoration.
Updates on service suspensions and restorations will be shared via social media platforms, the Le Pass app, and in partnership with NOLA Ready.
NOLA-PS
In response to the winter storm impacts, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) and its Central Office (2401 Westbend Parkway, New Orleans, LA 70114) will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 22 and Thursday, Jan. 23. NOLA-PS will continue to work in coordination with City officials and following their recommendations and guidelines.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG NEW ORLEANS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (MSY)
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport continues to monitor the winter weather conditions and the impacts to the area. All airlines at Louis Armstrong Airport have cancelled flight operations on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and depending on weather conditions, most airlines plan to resume operations on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines on the most up-to-date flight information. Click here to access flight updates.
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
- To 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)
# # #
|