NEW ORLEANS — Next week marks the start of hurricane season on Saturday, June 1. An active season is expected with nearly 13 hurricanes predicted; city leaders said plans are underway to prepare for the season.
Mayor Cantrell said the focus is on preparedness and adapting to the changes in climate, "as we ready ourselves for what is anticipated this year to be a very active hurricane season," she said.
NOAA is forecasting a season of record-breaking activity, predicting with 70% confidence, 17-25 named storms, 8-13 hurricanes, and 4-7 major hurricanes.
Cantrell urged residents to have a hurricane plan, know your neighbors and sign up for NOLA Ready alerts. The city is working on opening a Unified Public Safety Warehouse within 30 days, said Collin Arnold, Director of New Orleans Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP).
"This will provide up to 65,000 square feet of critical storage for emergency supplies for all of our public safety agencies," he said. "These are the things that we get out to our responders to get out to the public during times of disaster."
Arnold said it will offer unparalleled supply delivery opportunities, with multiple floating loading docks and is right next to the Expressway. He said the warehouse has been in the works for five years now.
For shelter-in-place storms, having supplies for three days or more is important. Also, residents should be prepared to leave town for a few days.
"Now is the time to get ready, and you've got time," said Arnold.
Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office said they will host a mock evacuation next week to practice their plan if they have to evacuate the 1,200 inmates in custody.
Sewerage & Water Board said 89 out of 99 major drainage pumps are available. It anticipates to have its two largest pumps that are currently down back in service by the end of June.
"Our system requires a minimum of 44 megawatts of total power to be able to operate all of those pumps, we currently have 49 megawatts available," said a S&WB spokesman.
Turbine 4, one of the major pumps, is expected to be repaired soon. The parts are scheduled to come on June 14 with a two-week turnaround for install.
Back-up generators are in place for sewer pump stations and full capacity for back-up generators at the East and West bank treatment plants should there be a loss of power to those facilities.
City leaders said 16 emergency resource centers are in place, including the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, and nine of those are New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORD) facilities.
The Regional Transit Authority will provide emergency transportation to the Smoothie King Center for residents who can't leave on their own in case of a hurricane. There are 17 evacuation locations for residents to get picked up at. Point-to-point transportation will also be provided to those who need it.
Residents will register to evacuate at the Smoothie King Center and "from there, evacuees will board a bus, train, or airplane to a state or federal shelter."
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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the Greater New Orleans area has the most advanced risk-reduction system in the nation. Southeast Louisiana drainage program (SELA) is designed to help manage a 10-year rain event, which is nine inches of rain during a 24 hour period.
"During a tropical event, SELA will work in tandem with the hurricane storm damage risk-reduction system, while the perimeter system will reduce the risk of surge entering the interior of the city," said a spokesman.
SELA will help to reduce damage and get water out of the city.
Contraflow is the last evacuation resort and will start at 32 hours prior to the tropical storm.
"All hands absolutely on deck and we have demonstrated that we are stronger together," said Cantrell.
Hurricane season begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30 each year.
Text NOLA Ready at 77295 for alerts.
Watch the complete press conference below:
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