New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is telling residents they need to remain sheltered in place, because even though Hurricane Barry made landfall this morning more than 100 miles to the west of the city, potentially flooding rain is still expected today.
"We will remain consistent with that message," said the mayor, "asking you to stay off the streets, being prepared to shelter in place."
Even though the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board says it has 117 out of 120 pumps working, the mayor said that rain could overwhelm the pumps, so New Orleans Police are ready to barricade low-lying streets that are known problem areas.
"The NOPD and New Orleans Fire Department will close flooded roads, underpasses, and interstate exits in low lying areas," said Cantrell. "Anyone tampering with barricades; understand this is illegal. You are not to tamper with barricades."
New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board Director Ghassan Korban said with 97.5 percent of pumping capacity at the ready, they will do their best to keep water off the streets, but says sometimes they will have to play catch-up.
"Our pumps are working, and it takes a long long time for that water to recede," Korban explained. "It may appear that it is still and it's not moving, but it's moving."
Korban likened it to pulling the drain on a bathtub, saying just as you don't see water dropping right away in your tub, you don't notice it immediately moving into storm drains, even though the pumps are on.
"There's no correlation with that appearance of stillness with the pumps not working," said Korban. "The pumps are working but it takes time for the water to recede."