City of New Orleans Monitoring Low Pressure Disturbance, Preparing for Rain
The City of New Orleans continues to monitor a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico that has the potential to develop into a tropical depression and bring heavy rain to New Orleans. The City of New Orleans encourages residents to review hurricane plans and prepare for rain, which is likely regardless of tropical development.
Monitoring low-pressure disturbance
Disorganized showers and thunderstorms continue over the Bay of Campeche and southern Mexico in association with a broad area of low pressure. The National Hurricane Center states that a tropical depression is likely to form by the end of the week. It is too soon to determine specific impacts on the local area, according to the National Weather Service’s New Orleans Office. However, regardless of development, rain is expected in New Orleans late this week and into the weekend. Forecast rainfall amounts will be refined as the situation becomes clearer.
City prepares for rain
The New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is monitoring and preparing for potential impacts from this system.
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) is prepared for potentially heavy rainfall later this week. Currently, 98 of 99 drainage pumps are available for service. The pump that is down is located at DPS 14 in New Orleans East. Regarding power: Turbine 1, Turbine 6, all the Electro-Motive Diesel generators (EMDs) and the Frequency Changers are in service and are ready for use. SWBNO teams and vendors are working hard to expedite repairs on Turbine 4 and Turbine 5, but for now, those two turbines remain out of service.
Department of Public Works maintenance will be working extended hours Thursday and Friday, along with working a full day on Saturday. For now, crews will be on standby Sunday in case they are needed. All crews have been cleaning roads and catch basins for any accumulated debris this week in preparation for this potential rain event. Maintenance currently has five operational vacuum trucks and four operational dump trucks. JIRR contractors are continuing to work through Friday as normal but have been notified that if conditions change, work will stop, and they will secure sites as needed.
At this time, department heads at Orleans Parish Communication District are closely monitoring the developments of Invest 92L and are prepared to increase the amount of staffing if need be. Emergency communications specialists and NOLA-311 staff have been thoroughly prepped to meet the needs of residents during this weather event. Both 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 services will continue to be available 24/7 both by phone and the web. Please remember that 9-1-1 is for life-threatening emergencies only. For non-emergency services, please call (504) 821-2222 or 3-1-1.
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East closed the GIWW barge gate at the surge barrier yesterday. They are closely watching the system and the prediction for storm surge. They are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to close land-based flood gates as warranted; however, no gates have been closed at this time. They have their pump station operators and gate crews on standby and are prepared to respond.
VIA LINK will be operating the 2-1-1 system 24/7 during the storm and will be ready to assist residents with information and referrals.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority will maintain service across all modes as long as weather conditions allow them to do so safely. For the latest information on service impacts, visit www.RTAforward.org, call the Rideline at (504) 248-3900 or follow @NewOrleansRTA on social media.
NORD programming will continue to operate under its normal schedule. NORD will monitor the storm and City's response throughout the week and weekend and make any changes as needed.
The New Orleans Public Library plans to open as usual but will monitor the storm and make changes as needed.
Residents encouraged to prepare for rain and review hurricane plans
The City of New Orleans encourages residents to prepare for the potential of heavy rain later this week. Clear leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts, and in front of catch basins to help rain get to the drain. To reduce risk of street flooding, do not park in front of or on a catch basin, and do not dispose of anything in a catch basin. Call 3-1-1 to report catch basins that are not fully functioning. Residents should avoid lifting a catch basin lid or inserting anything into a catch basin.
As always during hurricane season, residents are reminded to review emergency plans, gather emergency supplies and stay informed. Hurricane preparedness information is available at ready.nola.gov/hurricane. Updates from the City will be provided at ready.nola.gov and on social media @nolaready. Residents can also receive emergency alerts directly from the City by text, email or via phone. To register for alerts, text NOLAREADY to 77295 or go to ready.nola.gov/alerts.
Residents who might need extra help during an emergency due to medical or mobility needs should sign up for the City’s Special Needs Registry. To register, call 3-1-1 or go to specialneeds.nola.gov.