Mardi

Isaac overstayed his welcome, but he’s finally cleared out of the Greater New Orleans Area. Mayor Mitch held a press conference today to give a wrap up of the damage, applaud the city’s agencies for their successes, and to warn citizens to stay alert as the city gets back in pre-Isaac shape. Other than a few looting incidents, a handful of fires, and a lot of power outages, the Mayor said he’s impressed with NOLA’s progress.  

Mayor Mitch assured citizens that the city has been on the top of their game throughout the storm. “While you are waiting our teams are out in the streets working hard, they’ve moved aggressively,” Landrieu said. The Mayor said that crews have been in the street as early as yesterday afternoon, surveying major corridors and assets. 300 responders were out by day break fixing downed lines, traffic lights, and downed trees, according to Landrieu.  

Mayor Mitch also thanks citizens for using 311. Today, 1,100 Entergy workers will be on the streets, with most of them already on duty. There are still 149,000 without power (10,000 less than yesterday).

The city is about to open shelters for the elderly and others in dire need of power in Gentilly and New Orleans East areas. Landrieu also said that he’s been in contact with Wal Mart, and he assured citizens that stores are “working to open supply outlets on the West Bank and New Orleans East.” Currently, Wal Mart is having energy problems at their Tchoupitoulas and their Algiers locations, but the Mayor has spoken with other retail outlets in these areas.

Citizens of Venetian Islaes faced some of the worst damage, with 3ft. of water on the ground. There are five boats currently in use assessing the damange. There have been three one-alarm fires in the past 24 hours on Decatur, N. Claiborne, and Dauphine streets. Three arrests have been made as well as two summons for curfew violations.

Landrieu also warns people on the road that they could be held liable for damage to other’s homes and businesses. “If you drive through standing water and push it in someone’s house or business, man let me just let you. I’m gonna leave it at that,” the mayor joked.

Landrieu also assured citizens that the city of New Orleans has been in close contact with the White House, including that FEMA has issued a full emergency declaration. Entergy is at the airport now trying to restore power and get planes back up in the air. 

The Mayor also assured merrymakers and sports fans that, “Decadence will go on, and the Tulane home game will be played. The Saints said they will win the game tonight.”

Entergy’s Charles Rice spoke to tell citizens that trucks started rolling at 7am, with “450 boots on ground right now.” Rice said his crews are working 16 hour shifts, currently doing safety briefings in Slidell as well as New Orleans East. “Once they get here, they go directly to work,” Rice said. “Their first job is hospitals and substations. What our guys do is very dangerous, and I want them to be safe. Don’t distract them, they need focus,” Rice included.

NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas spoke to assure citizens that the NOPD is operating at 100 percent accountability, with “blue lights everywhere.” Serpas also said that the National Guard cooperated with local law enforcement all night, finding six instances to take action due to curfew and making three arrests total.  

Serpas warns citizens that traffic lights are still out and that debris still covers the roads, asking drivers not to travel unless they have to. In 36 hours, there have been 16 looting events, and law enforcement was able to make arrests on the scene in 13 of them. There is a three year mandatory sentence for looters if convicted. Serpas said the looter turnout proved to be a “small number of events for a storm that sat on us for a long time.”

NOFD Superintendent Charles Parent spoke about the fire situation during Isaac, reporting that there have been three more fires since his last press conference. The NOFD “knocked them all down before they spread.” Parent included that “Tensions [within the department] have been running high as people have been together for several days,” causing Mayor Mitch to chime in: “I call that the ‘go in the backyard’ theory,” Landrieu joked.   

The Coast Guard assures citizens that they are still assessing what has been impacted with the Mississippi River, and working to get it open as soon as safely possible.

EMS Medical Director Jeff Elder said that EMS has received 250 calls over the storm, noting that the number is “more than our usual calls for service.” Although Elder said that EMS is able to handle it, he also asks citizens, “If you don’t know how to use a chainsaw, don’t use it. And don’t fall off your roof.”

New Orleans Health Commissioner Karen DeSalvo said that Tulane’s Emergency Room is closed, but the hospital is still open. All hospitals open, and DeSalvo asks that citizens call 504-658-2500 if they need special medical help involving power. Dialysis centers will all be open today.

The Red Cross has 2700 volunteers on the ground, with “supply trucks rolling as we speak,” DeSalvo said. The Health Commissioner also said that the Red Cross supported 80 shelters in seven states and are “looking to help staff at state shelters, one on the East Bank, and one on the West Bank,” said DeSalvo.

The New Orleans Airport sustained roof damage on the airfield. The airport is out of power, and they are hoping to be operational again tomorrow.  

Landrieu’s Economic Advisor Aimee Quirk spoke to tell citizens that Whole Foods and Langenstein’s are open, with Walgreens in the process of reopening right now. Robert’s on Claiborne and in Lakeview, as well as Rouse’s, Wal Mart, and Winn Dixie are still not ready to reopen. A full, up-to-date list of open stores will be posted at ready.nola.gov. Quirk also warns shoppers to be prepared for long lines.

In terms of tourism, Quirk reported 35 % occupancy at hotels, and she’s expecting that figure to increase. Decadence is still on, and Quirk said it will be, “great for the city." Quirk included that the Superdome is fine, with restaurants and shops beginning to reopen. The Carnival Elation Cruise has been moved to mobile.

Councilperson Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said a few words: “It’s important for New Orleans to show the world and our citizens that all of the work we’ve done for the last 7 years has been putting New Orleans on the right track.” Hedge-Morrell included that we don’t have massive flooding this time around, indicating that New Orleans is ready for a more serious weather event.

Hedge Morrell also asks residents that they take time to talk to their neighbors, sit on their porches, and come together as a community. “Now is a good time to share. The Council has been working, on the ground, in the districts,” Hedge Morrell said.

The Mayor ended the conference by saying that today is the “hump day. Don’t think we’re facing Gustav-level outage yet.” Landrieu also warned citizens, “don’t let your guard down. Take today seriously, and keep being patient. Protecting life is really what’s important.”

In response to a question regarding the 17th St. Canal pumps being manually operated, the mayor responded, “There are always glitches, good thing the guys were on it like gravy on rice.”  

In terms of a FEMA reimbursement, the mayor said he has had three calls with President Obama. “They have indicated they will give us everything that we need, money for debris removal, hazard mitigation,” Landrieu said.