Today, the City of New Orleans encouraged residents to continue to provide donations and volunteer time to assist roughly 10,500 Hurricane Laura evacuees sheltering in New Orleans. 

Immediately after Hurricane Laura, Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Councilmember Helena Moreno, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and the Junior League of New Orleans partnered to provide resources to evacuees.

The City of New Orleans continues to welcome and offer support to the growing number of evacuees who are sheltered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in New Orleans hotels following Hurricane Laura's impacts. Evacuees are encouraged to text WELCOMENOLA to 888777 or to visit ready.nola.gov/welcome for information on resources, services, and events during their stay. 

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is operating non-congregate shelters for evacuees from areas impacted by Hurricane Laura. Evacuees in need of shelter must go to the reception center to be placed at a hotel. Anyone who arrives directly at a hotel will be not be admitted and will be required to go to the reception center.

A tornado watch is in effect for all of Southeast Louisiana, including Orleans Parish, until 4 p.m. today. Be ready to shelter in an interior room on the lowest level if a tornado warning is issued. Additionally, a Flash Flood Watch, Wind Advisory, and Coastal Flood Advisory remain in effect for our area.

The City of New Orleans is providing support for communities in neighboring parishes that will be impacted by Hurricane Laura. The New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD), Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD), New Orleans Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) are supporting efforts in the areas impacted by the Category 4 hurricane.

The City of New Orleans continues to monitor Hurricane Laura as it is expected to make its way to the Texas-Louisiana border as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday. Storm surge outside of the levee system is forecast to be the greatest impact to the local area; however, heavy rain, wind, and tornadoes are possible should an outer band track over the city

NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) announced today that all distance learning and other school-related activities will resume on Wednesday, Aug. 26. This announcement includes the resumption of distance learning and the reopening of school buildings that have been made accessible to school staff and teachers to utilize. 

Hurricane Laura could bring impacts to the area Wednesday through Thursday. Some coastal flooding issues can be expected along the Southeast Louisiana coast. Windy conditions and a threat of tornadoes will also be in play. Locally heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding, especially where any banding results in heavy rain for an extended period.

The New Orleans City Council is partnering with the City of New Orleans and Mayor LaToya Cantrell to offer free sandbags to residents across the city to help prepare for Tropical Storm Laura. There will be four distribution sites in Algiers, Central City, Gentilly, and New Orlenas East on Tuesday, Aug. 25 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. No documentation is required and sandbags are limited to four per person.