NEW ORLEANS — In New Orleans, where even an ordinary rainstorm can cause widespread flooding, the threat of two named systems in the Gulf of Mexico has officials on high alert.
At the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board, an agency long hampered by limited capacity and aging equipment, officials say they have been preparing for several days.
“Our personnel have been advised that they could be potentially called to work for an extended period of time perhaps as early as Sunday,” said Bob Turner, the utility’s general superintendent.
Turner said 98 out of 99 drainage pumps are working, and the one that is out of commission is expected to be fixed by Sunday.
Turner said the biggest challenge could be power generation, where the margin for error is slim.
The utility generates most of its own power, but out of its five power-producing turbines, Turbine 5 has not been brought back since a fire in December and Turbine 4 will be kept below maximum capacity after a full load caused it to trip off during the unexpected rain and flooding on June 10.
“When you add everything up we have enough power to power all of the equipment we need to power,” Turner said. “The big difference is we are lacking redundancy when it comes to power generation without turbine generator number five.”
Turner said to make up for the diminished power, the five industrial generators known as EMDs – Electro-Motive Diesel generators – will be deployed early in the process as a front-line source of electricity than as backup power sources.
“Whatever the threat is, we have every available piece of equipment ready to react to that as well as the necessary personnel,” Turner said.
At the city's emergency operations center in City Hall, uncertainty about how the storms will behave in the Gulf is the biggest wild card.
“The uncertainty of the dual storms in this is presenting what I think is a bit of a challenge.” Said Collin Arnold, the city’s emergency preparedness director.
Deputy Mayor Ramsey Green reiterated that how and when the storms will affect the N.O. area will be closely monitored.
“There are three to six inches of rain forecasted through Thursday of next week,” Green said. “Not a huge amount of rain at this particular moment, but it all depends on where and how short of a time it lands.”
Another complication is the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials stressed that while residents should stock up on supplies and make storm preparations, they should also maintain mask-wearing and physical distancing, even in the event of a shelter-in-place order.
Anyone who wants emergency updates from the city on their phone can text “Laura” to 888-777 or check the city’s “Nola Ready” website.
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