We're about a month away from the start of hurricane season, and the Army Corps of Engineers is reinforcing pumps in the city.
The Corps will install supplemental pumps at the London Avenue pump site. According to Corps public affairs liason Ricky Boyette, these supplemental pumps are needed because Pump Number One at the London Avenue site is undergoing repairs. Construction work on the pumps could begin as early as next week.
"These pumps are just in the event that we have a tropical weather event and we don't have the capacity we need because pumps are still under inspection or repair," Boyette said.
Boyette says it's part of the Corps's efforts to shore up protection for New Orleans ahead of hurricane season.
"We're going to continue to focus in on getting these systems ready for hurricane season--1 June, really--and we're also evaluating what is the cause of the corrosion in Pump #1, and that'll determine what we do long-term to make sure we get the full 35-year life service of these pumps."
