NEW ORLEANS — The city of New Orleans and surrounding areas were pounded by a line of heavy storms and rains that flooded streets, making roads impassable, trapping cars, and sending water into some vehicles and in some cases businesses.
One social media post from Gabrielle restaurant showed a few inches of floodwater inside of the business with diners who were already inside continuing to finish their meal.
Some of the hardest hit areas included, but were not limited to: Orleans Avenue near Claiborne, Baronne Street, I-610 exit near Franklin, Chef Menteur Highway near Downman, Airline Drive near Eagle, the Canal Blvd. underpass, Carrollton underpass, Claiborne Avenue Uptown near State, Huey P. Long in Gretna.
WWL Louisiana Meteorologist Alexandra Cranford said official rainfall totals at the rain gauges used by the National Weather Service showed 5 inches of rain near the lakefront and 4.5 inches of rain in downtown New Orleans.
Unofficial gauges from viewers making reports to WWL Louisiana showed totals upwards of 7 to 8 inches in spots.
To make matters worse in New Orleans, the Sewerage and Water Board took one of its centenarian turbines offline for possible mechanical issues.
In addition, the Sewerage and Water Board said that two out of the five backup generators (EMDs) were down, one due to a radiator leak and another due to electrical issues.
“Tonight the amount and intensity of the rain that fell over the course of 2 to 3 hours was upwards of 4 to 5 inches with the highest rainfall intensities of 6 inches an hours in the Treme area. This surpasses our capability to handle 1 inch of rain per hour for the first hour and half an inch of rain every hour after,” said a statement from the Sewerage and Water Board.
WWL Louisiana viewers shared videos and photos of flooded streets in their neighborhoods after heavy rainstorms fell across New Orleans and other parts of southeast Louisiana Saturday.
Photo shows a car stuck in flooded waters in Gretna.
Dorgenois and St. Ann in Treme - from a WWL Louisiana viewer Saturday night.
Flooding on Marengo and Peniston in New Orleans Saturday night.
Viewer shares photo of water almost reaching their knees near St. Charles. Photo by Crissy Bushman
Street flooding in New Orleans: Baronne Street Saturday night.
A video shows a car stuck in flood waters on Canal Boulevard.
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