NEW ORLEANS — From manholes and potholes to street flooding, locals call the 1400 block of South Rendon Street an infrastructure nightmare.
When the rain comes down here, it comes up fast,” Owner of Markel Lumber Gabriel Markel said. “It’s not uncommon for it to rise 4 feet in thirty minutes.”
As the rain came down on South Rendon Street Wednesday, the Owner of Markel Lumber Gabriel Markel held his breath.
“We have to scramble to get material to a safe height, and we can’t operate when we have two feet of water in the warehouse,” Markel said.
In just half an hour, water from surrounding streets rushed onto the block as drains struggled to keep up with rising water.
“At this point, it’s standard procedure, but it’s still a pain in the butt,” Markel said.
The water didn’t make it to Markel’s doorstep this time, but he says flooding costs him around $25,000 each year.
For some, the street has cost more than financial loss. Last Thursday, 45-year-old Bradley Nodier slammed into a raised pothole on South Rendon.
When we interviewed him, he said the crash sent him to the ICU with a devastating neck injury.
“I was in shock. My head slung back just like a slingshot,” Bradley Nodier said.
Just days after WWL Louisiana told his story, the city repaired the manhole, but left the rest of the street untouched.
In May, Markell says he reached out to Council Member Lesli Harris to find a solution.
Council Member Harris turned down an interview today and twice last week, but told us she raised the issue to the Sewerage and Water Board over the summer.
As of August 6, Harris says the Sewerage and Water Board was working to replace a deteriorating piece inside the area’s drainage system.
According to Harris, it could take 2 to 3 weeks to procure the replacement part.
For Markel, severe weather comes with a big price tag, and he hopes the people in charge act fast.
“You know where it is. Let’s get this done,” Markel said.
WWL reached out to the Sewerage and Water Board and they told us they will give us an update soon.
