Curbed New Orleans - Updates on New Orleans August Rainfall: Floods, drainage, impact, and pump capacityLove where you live2018-09-27T11:15:01-05:00http://nola.curbed.com/rss/stream/158805732018-09-27T11:15:01-05:002018-09-27T11:15:01-05:00Learn how to clean your catch basin at a free training session this weekend
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<figcaption>This catch basin (bottom right) is one of more than 62,000 that must be maintained to prevent flooding in New Orleans.</figcaption>
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<p>Clean catch basins reduce the city’s flooding risk</p> <p id="mRnm5S">Almost every block in New Orleans has catch basins, which work in conjunction with the floodwalls, levees, and pump system to prevent our below-sea-level city from filling up with water when it rains. Catch basins collect surface runoff and funnel it into the drainage system, which leads to Lake Pontchartrain.</p>
<p id="F0B4rD">The problem is, the city only has enough budget to maintain 3,500 of its 68,092 catch basins—which means that many become clogged with trash, leaves, and other debris. And that in turn means a heavy rain can flood New Orleans, which happened in <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16116532/new-orleans-aftermath-update-august-5-flood-drainage">August 2016.</a></p>
<p id="zMDaut">After those floods, the mayor and the Department of Public Works pushed residents to take ownership of their nearest catch basin, launching an <a href="https://nola.gov/mayor/news/archive/2017/20171115-pr-iti-adopt-a-catch-basin-website-award/">award-winning</a> <a href="https://catchbasin.nola.gov/?utm_campaign=City_of_New_Orleans&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">catch basin adoption program</a>. This weekend, in conjunction with mayor LaToya Cantrell’s <a href="https://nola.gov/mayor/cleanupnola/?utm_campaign=City_of_New_Orleans&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">CleanUpNOLA </a>Initiative, the Neighborhood Engagement Office will teach residents how to safely, effectively clean out their catch basins.</p>
<p id="IFrCwK">“We cannot grow if we don’t have a healthy city,” Cantrell said at a press conference announcing CleanUpNOLA’s launch on Sept 17. “We encourage residents to step up, businesses to step up and be held accountable because you too have a responsibility if you’re calling the city of New Orleans your home.”</p>
<p id="X9NP0W">The training takes place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Phyllis Wheatley Community School (2300 Dumaine St.). Seven citywide cleanup days follow through October and early November. Residents can register for the free event at <a href="https://www.nola.gov/neighborhood-engagement/programs/catch-basin-cleaning/?utm_campaign=City_of_New_Orleans&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">nola.gov.</a></p>
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https://nola.curbed.com/2018/9/27/17902694/catch-basin-cleaning-training-flood-preventionMissy Wilkinson2017-08-10T11:59:27-05:002017-08-10T11:59:27-05:00NOLA warns East Bank residents about risk of flooding after power turbine failure
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<img alt="Reflective windows bounce sunlight off New Orleans City Hall behind a park lined with lampposts on a brick pathway" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UeR7YUAQoRfVH39Vi08TRQD6k3I=/90x0:1511x1066/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56138361/Duncan_Plaza_and_City_Hall_in_New_Orleans.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Vegasjo/Wikimedia Commons.</figcaption>
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<p>Mayor assures public that the city is working as fast as it can</p> <p id="cRFqQs"><strong>Update [11:59 a.m.] </strong></p>
<ul>
<li id="ralTLZ">Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced that the city has acquired 14 two-megawatt generators to assist in powering the pumping stations. </li>
<li id="VfTEwr">Currently, 38 out of the 58 pumps are active in neighborhoods west of the Industrial Canal. </li>
<li id="wW1DOI">Landrieu. with the Sewerage & Water Board approval, opted to have a third party run the Board for the time being. An additional third party will survey the current state of the pumps and power stations. More on this soon.</li>
<li id="91EeXA">OPSB and Charter schools will be closed today and Friday, August 11.</li>
</ul>
<p id="QJrTcX"><strong>Update [9:45 a.m.]: </strong></p>
<ul><li id="xNtFOD">Sewerage & Water Board officials confirm that 16 pumps were inoperable <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16116532/new-orleans-aftermath-update-august-5-flood-drainage">during the August 5 storm.</a> On Tuesday, the administrative branch reported 14 pumps out of service.</li></ul>
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<p id="NLmlA5">Early this Morning, <a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/LANOLA/bulletins/1b00bdb">New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced that the Sewerage & Water Board has lost a turbine,</a> which powers most of the cities pumping stations. Without the power of the turbine, the Board says its drain storm capacity has diminished for the East Bank of New Orleans.</p>
<p id="XL765L"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheAdvocateNewOrleans/videos/1199122103554155/">At a 7 a.m. press conference,</a> an official from the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board says at current capacity, the pumping system can handle an inch of rain before standing water occurs. </p>
<p id="0U07Ez">All neighborhoods west of the Industrial Canal risk flooding, according to the Office of the Mayor. <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/neighborhood/1306/no-east?_ga=2.131541071.1322074940.1502109970-1785635170.1473261910">New Orleans East,</a> <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/neighborhood/1270/algiers?_ga=2.131541071.1322074940.1502109970-1785635170.1473261910">Algiers,</a> and <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/neighborhood/1304/lower-9?_ga=2.125681994.1322074940.1502109970-1785635170.1473261910">the Lower 9th Ward </a>operate on a separate power source and are not affected by the outage.</p>
<p id="2eyiAw">“Im sending out this message loudly and clearly out of the abundance of caution,” Landrieu says. “We will be able to handle a typical rainfall.”</p>
<p id="uDr1ZI">Orleans Parish Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr., announced that all schools under the parish will be closed August 10 to 11 out of precaution and urged charter schools to close. <a href="http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2017/08/school_closure_new_orleans_aug.html">Here’s a list of all the schools that have closed due to flooding precautions. </a></p>
<p id="S6ee0A"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FOX8NOLA/videos/vb.107322144609/10155827093824610/?type=2&theater">At a 2 a.m. press conference, </a>Landrieu says that the turbine issue will be resolved in the next 24 to 48 hours. </p>
<p id="Zxeb0C">In the mean time, the City urges residents to move vehicles to higher ground and to take necessary precaution to protect personal property during the event of a flood. </p>
<p id="CViozf">The Mayor will hold a meeting with the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to learn more about the internal fire that disabled the turbine earlier today. The Office of the Mayor had no further details on the fire. </p>
<p id="sNzrz4">The affected power turbine, Turbine #1, provides power to most of the cities pumping stations that serve the East Bank of New Orleans. The Mayor said that this is the fourth turbine out of operation. The other three are under maintenance, he adds.</p>
<p id="Lgx9Fl">Landrieu says that City is currently securing backup generators to help service the city’s pumping stations. No other details on those acquisitions have been given.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">No significant changes to the forecast. Showers and thunderstorms each day through the weekend. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lawx?src=hash">#lawx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mswx?src=hash">#mswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/mX26G6UJEa">pic.twitter.com/mX26G6UJEa</a></p>— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSNewOrleans/status/895574264467927040">August 10, 2017</a>
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<p id="FZv57Y">The National Weather Service of New Orleans forecasts a .25 to .50 inches of rain will fall today. Rainfall is likely to occur in the afternoon. </p>
<p id="RWfwTz"> Sewerage and Water Board officials reveled that 16 not 14 water pumps were inoperable during Saturday’s flood. </p>
<h2 id="R9k8Bm"> Sewerage & Water Board emergency meeting </h2>
<p id="yqqvYL">“We believe we have enough power with normal rainfall to due what is necessary,” Landrieu says. “We are in the process…that we have a whole army of people working on the turbine as we speak. The news is better right now that it was late last night.” </p>
<p id="uzy3vJ">Landrieu says that is is likely that the turbine #1 will be restored today. </p>
<h2 id="SrWfN6">Status of the city’s turbines</h2>
<p id="S51ury"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheAdvocateNewOrleans/videos/1199167236882975/">During the 9:30 a.m. meeting between board members the Sewerage and Water Board and Mayor Mitch Landrieu,</a> Director Cedric Grant announced the status of the pump station’s power plant. </p>
<p id="81hwMy">Out of the five turbines, only one, the backup, is operable. Turbine 1 became inoperable Wednesday night after a fire occurred. </p>
<p id="HtELd7">Turbine 4 has been inoperable since January of 2017. It’s slated to be repaired by the en of this year. Turbine 3 has been inoperable since this past May. Turbine 5 lost power after a torrential downpour in July 22. </p>
<p id="mKvZH9">Several power outages occurred during the August 5 storm.</p>
<ul>
<li id="bcbTFA">
<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/LANOLA/bulletins/1b00bdb">S&WB Storm Water Pumping Capacity Further Diminished in East Bank of New Orleans West of Industrial Canal</a> [City of New Orleans]</li>
<li id="2KLLzv">
<a href="http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2017/08/school_closure_new_orleans_aug.html">School closures: List of New Orleans schools closed because of flooding concerns </a>[Nola.com]</li>
</ul>
https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/10/16124864/new-orleans-turbine-pumping-station-capacity-diminished-rainfall-floodEric Craig2017-08-08T18:54:46-05:002017-08-08T18:54:46-05:00Everything you need to know about New Orleans August 5 flood: Pumps status, SW&B removals, and presentations
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<figcaption>Extensive flooding on Gentilly and Paris Avenue during the August 5 storm. | Photo by Eric Craig</figcaption>
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<p>A lot happened this afternoon at City Hall</p> <p id="oDTiMR">New Orleans City Council wanted answers from various city officials on why the city underwent extensive flooding in <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/7/16106480/new-orleans-flood-update-damages-rainfall-concern-assistance">several neighborhoods during the August 5 storm. </a></p>
<p id="AW1TQH">On Tuesday, August 8, <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16114506/new-orleans-city-council-update-august-flood-special-drainage-pumps">New Orleans City Council held a special meeting,</a> questioning several city officials on why the organizations could not prevent or lessen the impact of neighborhood flooding.</p>
<p id="3C0Qtg">After clarification from a fiery crossfire between City Council and the Sewerage and Water Board Director Cedric Grant and General Superintendent Joe Becker, the public learned that 14 out of the cities 121 pumps were not operational.</p>
<p id="TxSV78">Eight of those 14 pumps deal directly with drainage in New Orleans.</p>
<p id="qUkTxh">Grant publicly took responsibility for misleading the public, formerly saying all of the pumps were operational.</p>
<p id="kiF557">In a conference held Tuesday, August 8, during the special City Council meeting, <a href="http://www.wdsu.com/article/watch-live-mayor-to-discuss-city-efforts-after-flooding-in-new-orleans/11655348">Mayor Landrieu called for the removal</a> of Grant and Becker; Sewerage and Water Board spokesperson Lisa Martin; and Department of Public Works Director, Mark Jernigan.</p>
<p id="eT10dR">Lead officials from National Weather Service of New Orleans, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready); Sewage and Water Board of New Orleans. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and the Department of Public Works were in attendance at Tuesday’s special City Council meeting. </p>
<p id="JkYPp6">Here are the highlights from the presentations:</p>
<p id="2cOY2h"><strong>Sewerage and Water Board </strong></p>
<p id="nXUWTj">When asked what was needed to drain 9.3 inches of rain, the amount of rain that fell in Mid-City during Saturday’s storm, Becker says he would need six times the current capacity to keep up with that amount of water.</p>
<p id="288Jqs">While 14 of the pumps were out of operation, one out of the three pumps was out of commission in the Lakeview neighborhood. The operational pumps in Lakeview moved water at 57 percent of optimal performance. Lakeview had nearly 5 inches of rain.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Poor Broad theater. Not the first time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nolaflood?src=hash">#nolaflood</a> has made a cameo appearance. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thebroadtheatre?src=hash">#thebroadtheatre</a> <a href="https://t.co/S0ZgD5LROo">pic.twitter.com/S0ZgD5LROo</a></p>— Gradoux (@LoupGradoux) <a href="https://twitter.com/LoupGradoux/status/893953910939017219">August 5, 2017</a>
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<p id="aRrc2K">Council Member James Gray, frustrated at evasive answers says: “I thought we are on a witch hunt, but we have found witches.” </p>
<p id="sHgOP8">Becker publicly apologized for the misinformation given to the public.</p>
<p id="xx1FHj">“We are committed to making the repairs to the turbines,” Becker says. “We are committed to making repairs to the pumps as rapidly as we can...I am very committed to making sure the system works.”</p>
<p id="dB6ELm"><strong>Treme Business Representation</strong></p>
<p id="bcARAR">While not gauged by the City of New Orleans <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwODA2Ljc2NzA1ODQxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDgwNi43NjcwNTg0MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE4MDYxNDAxJmVtYWlsaWQ9ZXJpY21jcmFpZzI4QGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZXJpY21jcmFpZzI4QGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ0YXJnZXRpZD0mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/LANOLA/bulletins/1af39f3">in its recent survey of rainfall,</a> several homes and businesses<a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_fe117ba2-7b7c-11e7-9a52-0b5b4408c239.html"> in Treme underwent extensive flood damage. </a></p>
<p id="sibznZ">Representing businesses, City Council called forth Naaman Stewart, president of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, which is headquartered on 722 North Broad Street. The Headquarters took water damage on its ground level.</p>
<p id="DgERjH">“I didn’t come here to get confused about statistics and data about flooding,” Stewart says. “If we flood like this in a typical Summer rain storm, what’s going to happen in a hurricane?”</p>
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<p id="vep1a6">Stewart found the comments of the Sewerage and Water Board unacceptable. </p>
<p id="DI0P90">“Feel sorry for the people who live in the neighborhoods. Feel sorry for the businesses that might not have flood insurance. Those are the people we need to be worried about,” Stewart says. </p>
<p id="gErVUn">“We have to get these problems corrected, or there will be no City of New Orleans,” he added.</p>
<p id="RgSxRr"><strong>Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready)</strong></p>
<p id="GtD9HN">Aaron Miller, the Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says rainfall started around 2 p.m. on Saturday morning. The administrative branch has a daily and weekly briefing on weather, and, based on the most current information at the time, NOLA Ready expected 1 to 2 inches of rain throughout the entire weekend. </p>
<p id="asZPMq">The first 911 report of a car flooding occurred at 3:17 p.m. NOLA Ready sent out a flood advisory at 3:45 p.m., followed by at National Weather Service Announcement at 4:02 p.m.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Be sure to document flood damage by taking photos. For more information on how to file a flood claim, visit <a href="https://t.co/IMG33ocH14">https://t.co/IMG33ocH14</a></p>— NOLA Ready (@nolaready) <a href="https://twitter.com/nolaready/status/894629215953342464">August 7, 2017</a>
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<p id="SK95E1">During the flood, there were 54 flooding related rescues, and 112 flood related EMS calls during the duration of the storm.</p>
<p id="FWiNWA">City Council Woman LaToya Cantrell commented “You dropped the ball on this one,” on NOLA Ready’s actions during the storm. She criticized the organization 30-minute wait to release an advisory after the first 911 call, and lack of preparedness to block flooded and obstructed intersections. </p>
<p id="SlhAXB"><strong>National Weather Service </strong></p>
<p id="Kfroqt">Ken Graham, chief Meteorologist for the <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSNewOrleans">National Weather Service New Orleans </a>branch, says that Saturday’s storm began as “a typical rainfall.” </p>
<p id="Mw2o7W">“By four o’clock the meteorologists saw the rainfall rates regenerating and lasting to long over the city,” Graham says. </p>
<p id="6jhxPH">NWS sent out a flash flood warning at 4:02 p.m. to hundreds of thousand mobile devices. </p>
<p id="rcjZrF">“We really try to limit those to big events like this one, where it becomes life threatening.,” he added.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is Carrollton at Banks St. <a href="https://t.co/W2lsmLeGcL">pic.twitter.com/W2lsmLeGcL</a></p>— chelsea brasted (@cabrasted) <a href="https://twitter.com/cabrasted/status/893977677539024897">August 5, 2017</a>
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<p id="JSbw6x">By the end of the storm, the NWS’s heliport received 5.9 inches of rain, which Graham noted as an “incredible amount” over a few-hour period. Graham says that water levels varied throughout the city. For example, New Orleans Airport gauge read 0.5 inches of rain while Mid-City gauged 9.3 inches.</p>
<p id="tr5T48">Graham says that the organization could use more storm gauges predict the impact of a storm quicker. In retrospect, he says the organization acted in the best way in the amount of time it had.</p>
<p id="r9hMIB"><a href="http://www.wdtv.com/content/news/Flood-damage-only-minor-for-Harrison-County--437404343.html">A similar weather phenomenon happened in Harrison County, Mississippi</a> earlier this year. Graham noted there was a lot more green space to absorb water during the storm. A similar storm happened <a href="http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/05/may_8_1995_flood_a_rain_of_biblical_proportions.html">in New Orleans in May of 1995. </a></p>
<ul>
<li id="HtVmvY">
<a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/7/16106480/new-orleans-flood-update-damages-rainfall-concern-assistance">New Orleans flood update: Damages, rainfall, and assistance</a> [Curbed NOLA]</li>
<li id="UAgV5w">
<a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16114506/new-orleans-city-council-update-august-flood-special-drainage-pumps">New Orleans City Council to hold special meeting on Saturday’s flood, drainage, and pumps</a> [Curbed NOLA]</li>
<li id="2hH31H">
<a href="http://www.wdsu.com/article/watch-live-mayor-to-discuss-city-efforts-after-flooding-in-new-orleans/11655348">Three officials out at S&WB, DPW after New Orleans flooding</a> [WDSU]</li>
<li id="tLTS0R">
<a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_fe117ba2-7b7c-11e7-9a52-0b5b4408c239.html">See New Orleans businesses, residences that flooded over the weekend</a> [The Advocate]</li>
<li id="UbcP0F">
<a href="http://www.wdtv.com/content/news/Flood-damage-only-minor-for-Harrison-County--437404343.html">Flood damage only minor for Harrison County </a>[WDTV]</li>
<li id="bAdnX4">
<a href="http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/05/may_8_1995_flood_a_rain_of_biblical_proportions.html">'A rain of biblical proportions': The May 8-10, 1995, flood</a> [Nola.com]</li>
</ul>
https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16116120/new-orleans-august-storm-council-flood-updates-pumps-removalsEric Craig2017-08-08T13:18:29-05:002017-08-08T13:18:29-05:00New Orleans City Council to hold special meeting on Saturday’s flood, drainage, and pumps
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<img alt="Reflective windows bounce sunlight off New Orleans City Hall behind a park lined with lampposts on a brick pathway" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZEvPBMse7LSZ5OmGbQteJWYZZ_Q=/90x0:1511x1066/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56107969/Duncan_Plaza_and_City_Hall_in_New_Orleans.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>New Orleans City Hall. | Photo by Vegasjo/Wikimedia Commons.</figcaption>
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<p>Follow Curbed NOLA for live tweets!</p> <p id="RdUWPI"><strong>1:10 p.m. </strong>Council MemberStacy head was absent. Six members of the council are present.</p>
<p id="mnqp65">On Saturday, August 5, <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/7/16106480/new-orleans-flood-update-damages-rainfall-concern-assistance">parts of New Orleans underwent flooding with over eight inches of rain falling in a matter of hours. </a></p>
<p id="FdkmM4">Today, New Orleans City Council will hold a special meeting regarding the rain event, hoping to better understand why many parts of the city flooded this weekend. Members of the New Orleans Sewage and Water Board will answer questions posed by the council.</p>
<p id="mtZ09u">Curbed NOLA will live tweet the event on <a href="https://twitter.com/CurbedNOLA?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">its official Twitter page</a>. </p>
<p id="4OpuXf">The Council meeting, open to the public, will be held at City hall Chambers at 1 p.m. To watch a live stream of the event, <a href="http://cityofno.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&event_id=21348">visit the official New Orleans City Hall website.</a></p>
<p id="eWKcqE">Members called forth a special meeting last Sunday, August 6. Williams, along with other council members want to express concerns about rising water levels during Saturday’s storm. </p>
<p id="R6DMWt">On Sunday, City officials released the record of rainfall in several neighborhoods: </p>
<ul>
<li id="lNCtpe">Broadmoor- 5.49 inches</li>
<li id="QyzQ5m">Mid City- 9.43 inches</li>
<li id="LT0Hrx">St. Bernard- 5.74 inches</li>
<li id="C35hdU">Gentilly- 3.94 inches</li>
<li id="wTUZTi">Lower Nine- 3.64 inches</li>
<li id="UbEIfU">Lakeview- 4.71 inches</li>
<li id="q0hj1j">City Park- 4.96 inches</li>
<li id="7bbSaO">Lower Coast Algiers- 1.54 inches</li>
<li id="y2hZg3">New Orleans East- 0.74 inches</li>
<li id="9nXw1C">St. Roch- 5.62 inches</li>
<li id="87sdBB">Hollygrove area- 2.07 inches</li>
</ul>
<p id="6jXNwt"></p>
https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16114506/new-orleans-city-council-update-august-flood-special-drainage-pumpsEric Craig2017-08-07T08:52:45-05:002017-08-07T08:52:45-05:00New Orleans flood update: Damages, rainfall, and assistance
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6RlZnO5C0IKUok-C5IRByqkRn0A=/0x0:4032x3024/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56083271/IMG_2584.0.jpeg" />
<figcaption>Saturday’s storm flooded the Gentilly Boulevard underpass. | Photo by Eric Craig/Curbed NOLA</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In a matter of hours, nearly 10 inches of rain hit New Orleans</p> <p id="ajQOqo"><strong>Update: </strong>New Orleans’s pump’s <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/10/16124864/new-orleans-turbine-pumping-station-capacity-diminished-rainfall-flood">fail days after August storm.</a></p>
<p id="nJRYBc"><strong>Update: </strong>New Orleans City Council <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16116120/new-orleans-august-storm-council-flood-updates-pumps-removals">got answers on what happened Saturday.</a></p>
<p id="7fnttT"><strong>Update: </strong>For the newest in developments, <a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16116120/new-orleans-august-storm-council-flood-updates-pumps-removals">check out our story stream.</a></p>
<p id="iVVeLh">On Saturday, August 5, between 8 to 10 inches of rain made landfall in New Orleans, flooding entire neighborhoods. </p>
<p id="Ojm5lo">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. </p>
<p id="SecL9j">City officials released the following information on rainfall during Saturday’s flood:</p>
<ul>
<li id="lNCtpe">Broadmoor- 5.49 inches </li>
<li id="QyzQ5m">Mid City- 9.43 inches </li>
<li id="LT0Hrx">St. Bernard- 5.74 inches </li>
<li id="C35hdU">Gentilly- 3.94 inches</li>
<li id="wTUZTi">Lower Nine- 3.64 inches</li>
<li id="UbEIfU">Lakeview- 4.71 inches</li>
<li id="q0hj1j">City Park- 4.96 inches</li>
<li id="7bbSaO">Lower Coast Algiers- 1.54 inches</li>
<li id="y2hZg3">New Orleans East- 0.74 inches</li>
<li id="9nXw1C">St. Roch- 5.62 inches</li>
<li id="1b5vR4">Hollygrove area- 2.07 inches </li>
</ul>
<p id="sbLoKT">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. </p>
<p id="WOK987">Neighborhoods such as Gentilly, Lakeview, Mid-City, Treme, and the CBD were hit the hardest. </p>
<p id="WhwsTk">While the New Orleans Fire Department and Medical Services responded to over 200 emergency calls during Saturday’s flood, no fatalities were reported. </p>
<p id="tEy3G8">Despite several streets flooding, the <s>New Orleans Sewage and Water Board assured the public that its 121 pumps were operational. </s><a href="https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/8/16116120/new-orleans-august-storm-council-flood-updates-pumps-removals">14 of the city’s 121 pumps were not operational.</a><s> </s>At optimal performance, the pumps can displace one inch of rain during the first hour, and 1/2 inch after ever proceeding hour. </p>
<p id="SXZAkJ">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. </p>
<div id="j5dhfd">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another few days of scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. Locally very heavy rain, mainly north of I-12/59 corridors. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lawx?src=hash">#lawx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mswx?src=hash">#mswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/eaX8eFJEhf">pic.twitter.com/eaX8eFJEhf</a></p>— NWS New Orleans (@NWSNewOrleans) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSNewOrleans/status/894493018019037185">August 7, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="zSkI0t">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.</p>
<p id="u33Pz7">For assistance with debris cleanup or reporting flood damage, <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwODA2Ljc2NzAzNTgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDgwNi43NjcwMzU4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE4MDYxMzI2JmVtYWlsaWQ9ZXJpY0BjdXJiZWQuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1lcmljQGN1cmJlZC5jb20mdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&https://nola.gov/ready/updates/heavy-rains-and-flooding-in-new-orleans-stay-safe/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=City_of_New_Orleans&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">visit NOLA Ready’s official website.</a></p>
<ul><li id="06GpCl">
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTcwODA2Ljc2NzAzNTgxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE3MDgwNi43NjcwMzU4MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE4MDYxMzI2JmVtYWlsaWQ9ZXJpY0BjdXJiZWQuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1lcmljQGN1cmJlZC5jb20mdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&https://nola.gov/ready/updates/heavy-rains-and-flooding-in-new-orleans-stay-safe/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=City_of_New_Orleans&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=">Nola Ready</a> [Official Website]</li></ul>
https://nola.curbed.com/2017/8/7/16106480/new-orleans-flood-update-damages-rainfall-concern-assistanceEric Craig