New Orleans Mayor: 2-4" rain totals shouldn't happen fast enough to flood

While Barry's center of circulation is almost to Arkansas, its major rain bands have lingered behind it, bringing periodic heavy storms. But New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says it likely won't be heavy enough to cause widespread flooding.

"Tropical bands with heavy rain could continue to effect the area with predictable rainfall totals in the two to four inch range," said Cantrell Sunday afternoon. "But what we're being told by the national Weather Service is that that doesn't mean the two to four inches within an hour."

Meanwhile, Colin Arnold with the city's Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness office says he appreciates everyone who heeded the city's warnings.

"Remember that while we were fortunate with Barry, we might not be so fortunate next time," said Arnold. "Please do not let your guard down."

City services are already getting back to normal and by 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, the city should be functioning as normal. That's when parking rules will be reinstated, so anyone who put their car on a neutral ground or sidewalk to get it out of harm's way will have to move it by then.

City trash and garbage collection will resume as scheduled Monday, and the city will also be picking up debris from Wednesday's flash flood event as part of that regularly-scheduled collection.

"Our debris contractors can't pick up loose piles of branches and leaves," said Cynthia Sylvain-Lear, director of sanitation. "Branches ought to be in 4-foot lengths, cut and bundled." Leaves should be bagged.

Debris from Wednesday's flooding event? On your collection day, place it between the sidewalk & the street and separate it into categories. Don't place debris on neutral grounds, near utilities or fire hydrants, or next to parked cars. More: https://t.co/NDzzl84Hvr pic.twitter.com/33IK8stmBp

— NOLA Ready (@nolaready) July 14, 2019

Please follow these instructions to properly dispose of sandbags and ensure they do not get into catch basins. More on post-storm activities: https://t.co/NDzzl84Hvr pic.twitter.com/SWDneQpLG1

— NOLA Ready (@nolaready) July 14, 2019