Updated
Updated · WDSU New Orleans · Jul 20
New Orleans Readies 87 of 93 Drainage Pumps as Tropical Depression 2 Nears
Updated
Updated · WDSU New Orleans · Jul 20

New Orleans Readies 87 of 93 Drainage Pumps as Tropical Depression 2 Nears

3 articles · Updated · WDSU New Orleans · Jul 20

Summary

  • New Orleans said 87 of 93 major drainage pumps are available ahead of Tropical Depression 2, after revising the citywide total from 99 to 93 pumps.
  • The update comes as the Gulf system formed Sunday and is expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Bertha, raising the risk of heavy rain this week.
  • Several units remain down, including pumps at DPS 6, 13, 14 and 18; at DPS 18, two temporary pumps and two submersible pumps have been installed to offset outages.
  • Power support is mixed: multiple emergency generators and frequency changers are available, but two frequency changers and the Carrollton Water Plant unit are out of service.
  • Residents can use the city's drainage map to check neighborhood pump status, while one underpass site at Old Carrollton relies on a temporary pump because all three installed pumps are down.

Insights

Can New Orleans' new power system keep pumps running through a storm after failing twice in recent months?
With pumps failing, funds cut, and a storm nearing, is New Orleans facing an unavoidable flooding disaster?