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Update: New Orleans’s pump’s fail days after August storm.
Update: New Orleans City Council got answers on what happened Saturday.
Update: For the newest in developments, check out our story stream.
On Saturday, August 5, between 8 to 10 inches of rain made landfall in New Orleans, flooding entire neighborhoods.
According to the Mayor’s Office, several neighborhoods experienced rainfall amounts in 100-year events, which have a one percent chance of occurring every year. The recorded rainfall topped the highest recording in recent history in many neighborhoods.
City officials released the following information on rainfall during Saturday’s flood:
- Broadmoor- 5.49 inches
- Mid City- 9.43 inches
- St. Bernard- 5.74 inches
- Gentilly- 3.94 inches
- Lower Nine- 3.64 inches
- Lakeview- 4.71 inches
- City Park- 4.96 inches
- Lower Coast Algiers- 1.54 inches
- New Orleans East- 0.74 inches
- St. Roch- 5.62 inches
- Hollygrove area- 2.07 inches
On Tuesday, August 8, at 1 p.m., New Orleans City Council will hold a special meeting at City Hall, posing questions to and receiving updates from the Sewage and Water Board and City Officials about Saturday’s flood. The council meeting, held at City Hall, is open to the public.
Neighborhoods such as Gentilly, Lakeview, Mid-City, Treme, and the CBD were hit the hardest.
While the New Orleans Fire Department and Medical Services responded to over 200 emergency calls during Saturday’s flood, no fatalities were reported.
Despite several streets flooding, the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board assured the public that its 121 pumps were operational. 14 of the city’s 121 pumps were not operational. At optimal performance, the pumps can displace one inch of rain during the first hour, and 1/2 inch after ever proceeding hour.
The permanent pump stations located at the 17th Street Canal, London Avenue Canal, and Orleans Avenue Canal were not operational, and are reserved for use during tropical storm surges.
Another few days of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Locally very heavy rain, mainly north of I-12/59 corridors. #lawx #mswx pic.twitter.com/eaX8eFJEhf
— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) August 7, 2017
The National Weather Service expects a number of possible showers and thunderstorms to pass through New Orleans this week. With the city’s green space being saturated from Saturday’s storm, official urge residents to be cautious of water runoff.
For assistance with debris cleanup or reporting flood damage, visit NOLA Ready’s official website.
- Nola Ready [Official Website]