May 28, 2024 | From City of New Orleans
Mayor Cantrell, City Officials and Partners Update Residents on Preparations for 2024 Hurricane Season
NEW ORLEANS —Mayor LaToya Cantrell today joined public health and safety officials to provide an overview of local, state and federalpreparations for the upcoming hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasters are predicting above average hurricane activity this year, with a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Eight to 13 of those predicted could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including four to seven major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5, with winds of 111 mph or higher). NOAA has 70 percent confidence in this forecast.
"As we collectively prepare for what experts are calling an active hurricane season, we are working in tight coordination with all our local, state and federal partners to take every action necessary to further mitigate any impact on the City of New Orleans,” saidMayor LaToya Cantrell. “The best way to do that is to provide our residents with the most reliable and up-to-date information available and work collectively to protect our residents from the rapidly intensifying storms we are experiencing due to our changing climate. Public safety is always our top priority, and I encourage all residents to please take time to map out your hurricane plan and ensure you stay connected with NOLA Ready. We are stronger together, standing ready and prepared to get through this hurricane season."
To watch the full 2024 hurricane preparedness press conference, please visit theCity’s YouTube Channel. The Spanish translation can be viewedhere.
Here is an overview of preparation efforts across several City and partner agencies:
NEW ORLEANS HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS (NOHSEP)
NOHSEP stands ready to coordinate the City’s hurricane response should a storm impact the city or the region.
The best way residents can prepare is to stay connected, make a plan and gather supplies:
- Stay connected. To sign up for emergency alerts from the City, residents are encouraged to text “NOLAREADY” to 77295. NOLA Ready’s outreach efforts to the Spanish-speaking community continue, with thousands more connected to emergency messaging in their preferred language over the past year. To receive this messaging in Spanish, text “ESP” to 77295. Organizations can also request hurricane preparedness trainings atready.nola.gov/training.
- Make a plan. Know where, how and with whom you plan to evacuate with in event of an impending storm. Consider City-assisted evacuation if you can’t evacuate on your own.
- Gather supplies. Make a “go-bag” that includes your ID, cash, medication (and records of your prescriptions), clothes, bedding, supplies for your pet and copies of critical documents (on residence, birth certificates, emergency contacts).
In light of the increasing occurrence of rapid-intensification hurricanes, NOHSEP has focused considerable resources on improving contingency alternatives to the City-Assisted Evacuation Plan, particularly for vulnerable populations. These include people with medical and mobility needs who are often at higher risk.
NOHSEP has worked with Entergy New Orleans to identify buildings to be prioritized for power restoration in the event of an outage. This includes critical infrastructure sites, public safety facilities and independent living facilities with residents that are reliant on electricity for life-sustaining devices.
NOHSEP has coordinated efforts to improve and expand WeatherSTEM, a series of 26 stations that provide real-time weather information and rainfall rates and can now provide air monitoring for emergency operators. This information is also available to the public atweatherwise.nola.gov.
The City of New Orleans is in the final stages of a warehouse expansion that will yield a larger inter-agency facility to better facilitate daily operations and critical logistics operations during hurricane response.
NOHSEP, in partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Development (NORD) Commission, conducted an exercise of the Emergency Resource Centers, which involved the cooperation of several local, state and regional emergency partners, multiple community-based organizations and the NOLA Ready Volunteer Corp. For information on how to become a valued NOLA Ready volunteer to further this mission, visit ready.nola.gov/volunteer.
NOHSEP has expanded its hurricane preparedness presentation and training outreach to Spanish and Vietnamese community organizations and partners. To request a training in Spanish or Vietnamese (as well as English), visitready.nola.gov/training.
If you experience a language access issue during a disaster, you can report it toready.nola.gov/languageaccess.
NEW ORLEANS HEALTH DEPARTMENT (NOHD)
NOHD has been working closely with NOHSEP to implement the Living Facilities Ordinance for seniors and people with disabilities. As of May 27, 51 of 68 known facilities have submitted documents to receive an annual certificate.
As of May 27, 51 facilities have submitted applications that are under review by NOHD and NOHSEP, with 16 facilities pending submissions. One facility is undergoing renovations and residents have been relocated, eliminatingthe requirement of anapplication submission for this property.NOHD has been in contact with each facility and will proceed with the adjudication process forthose that do not respond by the June 1 deadline.
NOHD continues to promote resident use of the Smart911 App, a more inclusive tool with a full range of access and functional needs. Integrated with NOLA Ready alerts and the Orleans Parish Communication District (OPCD) dispatch system, Smart911 will help the City communicate more efficiently with the most at-risk individuals following a disaster or emergency.
ORLEANS PARISH COMMUNICATION DISTRICT (OPCD)
OPCD continues to work with its partners to ensure the 9-1-1 and 3-1-1 systems remain fully functional through any extreme weather threats to New Orleans. OPCD reminds residents of the expected increase in call volume, and while staffed to the maximum extent possible, if your call is queued, simply remain on the line and it will be answered. Callers are encouraged not to hang up and call back, as it will place you at the end of the queue.
ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE (OPSO)
OPSO has held internal staff meetings over the past month to ensure staff is fully ready to execute. Due to increased concern this year about rapid intensification of potential storms, OPSO will be taking a closer look at any potential storm much earlier to determine if there is a need to evacuate the facilities.
OPSO will host a mock evacuation exercise next week to practice evacuating more than 1,000 residents from the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and other facilities. In the event of an evacuation, residents will be provided armbands to properly record their identity, what bus they are on and where they will be transported ahead of a hurricane’s arrival. The armbands will be an important factor to ensure residents’ safety and location as they board buses that will evacuate them to another secure location within the Louisiana Department of Corrections and out of harm’s way. Residents will not return to OJC until all systems are properly functioning, including the return of power to the facilities.
OPSO will also work with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) to support patrols throughout the city in the event that the facilities are evacuated.
LOUISIANA STATE POLICE (LSP)
LSP is honored to collaborate with all local, state and federal partners in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season. Together, we are stronger and more equipped to ensure the City of New Orleans is fully prepared for any potential situations that may arise. LSP encourages residents to stay informed by monitoring their social media pages for the latest updates on road closures and other traffic-related news.
DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION
The Department of Sanitation’s pre-positioned emergency debris removal and monitoring contracts are in place heading into 2024 hurricane season. Solid waste continuity of operations plans remain in place to facilitate resumption of contractor operations within 72 hours of a major weather event. Ongoing clearing of illegal dumping from rights-of-way will continue to reduce flooding and projectile risks.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (DPW)
DPW is continuing its preparation for the 2024 hurricane season by performing routine maintenance on all equipment to ensure crews have the resources in place to respond, as well as by coordinating with all contractors on their plans to secure construction sites should a severe weather event occur.
FLOOD PROTECTION AUTHORITY EAST
The Flood Protection Authority East is ready and confident that the system will perform to block storm surge as was demonstrated with Hurricane Ida in 2021. The levees, floodwalls, floodgates and surge barrier have been inspected with their quarterly and annual inspections. Permanent repairs of four of the pumps at the outfall closure structures are anticipated to be completed by June 1. The remaining 13 have been deemed ready for the upcoming season.
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (USACE)
USACE continues its effort to ensure each of the Permanent Canal Closures and Pumps system meets its 35-year design specifications. Long-term repairs have been completed on one pump, with another three to be completed by June 1. The remaining 13 pumps have been evaluated and confirmed both reliable and capable of delivering the required pumping capacity during the 2024 hurricane season. USACE will suspend its on-site work during hurricane season to prevent potential interference with the Flood Protection Authority-East’s maintenance, readiness or operations during a tropical weather event.
SEWERAGE AND WATER BOARD OF NEW ORLEANS (SWBNO)
SWBNO continues to test its equipment and train all staff for the 2024 hurricane season. This includes testing the generators and standard operating procedures at the drainage pumping stations, water treatment facilities and wastewater treatment plants to ensure its operators and equipment are in working order. This training is done throughout the year to prepare not only for hurricanes but all intense weather events.
SWBNO warns that while hurricanes should be monitored, residents should remember that summer rainstorms can pose significant flood threats, too.
When rain intensities are high – over one inch an hour – residents may see localized street flooding. SWBNO’s drainage system can handle one inch of rain per hour and a half-inch of rain each hour after that. That means three inches of rainfall in one hour can take up to five hours to drain.
As of May 28, 89 of 99 major drainage pumps are operational. All other underpass pumping stations are fully in service. Four out of five electro-motive diesel (EMD) generators, as well as five of six frequency changers are available for use. Turbines 5 and 6 are operational and available for use, and Turbine 4 is expected to return to service by the end of June.
This means 49 megawatts (MW) of power is available for our 25 hertz (Hz) power system. This system needs 44 MW of power to run at peak demand. When Turbine 4 returns to service, this will add 18 MW of available power.
To see SWBNO’s pumping and power status, please visit:Pumping and Power Equipment Status - Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (swbno.org)
A map of SWBNO’s drainage system is at the bottom of this web page:Stormwater - Drainage System Overview & Map - Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (swbno.org)
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS
Entergy New Orleans is ready to respond if needed and isencouraging theircustomers to be storm ready as well. Entergy’s team has conducted multiple drills in preparation for the beginning of storm season, and their customer service group has been proactively reaching out to customers to ensure their preparedness.
Entergy has reviewed and updated their critical customer list with City officials to ensure critical sites are appropriately prioritized for restoration.
Inspections of the grid and Entergy New Orleans facilities are continuing using infrared cameras and drones to inspect power lines and vegetation management.
Entergy New Orleans encourages customers to also be prepared. Customers can visitwww.entergy.com/stormcenterfor preparation and safety tips.
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