New Orleans doesn't anticipate a need to evacuate as Delta approaches, but city officials are also ready to shift gears on a moment's notice.
So far, New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Collin Arnold says they believe shelter-in-place is all that will be needed for Delta, but that could change.
"I want to be clear that we are keeping a very close eye on this storm's intensity because it's very unpredictable right now and it's got a ways to go," said Arnold. "We're watching this very closely, and if the intensity changes or anything changes that we need you to know about, and impacts increase, we may have to reevaluate and we will let you know."
Arnold says it appears New Orleans will most likely suffer tropical storm effects from Delta.
"While there are significant potential issues that we will address, they are manageable in a shelter in place scenario at this point."
Arnold says after five near misses so far this season, he doesn't want residents to get complacent and blow this one off.
City officials say they're waiting for storm surge forecasts from the National Hurricane Center before making any official decisions for communities outside the levee system.
