Photo: Brandon Bell / Getty Images
The city of New Orleans issued a curfew effective Tuesday, as massive power outages and significant amounts of debris remain a problem, following the disaster caused by Hurricane Ida.
St . Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office high water vehicle travels down Florissant Hwy earlier today. Due to the water level, the road is still closed to residents until further notice. pic.twitter.com/qkcWxQb3fm
– St. Bernard Parish (@StBGov) August 31 , 2021
The curfew will take effect from 8 pm to 6 am, said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson in a briefing Tuesday afternoon.
“There is absolutely no reason why someone should be on the streets,” Ferguson said.
The chief of police followed the announcement of a curfew by saying that there have been some looting problems, with several arrests made and general security, since New Orleans remains in darkness one more day since Ida’s arrival on Sunday.
More damage pics along Highway 1 during today’s trip with @LouisianaGov and @ FEMA_Deanne # HurricaneIda @ GOHSEP pic.twitter.com/Rx0Vdxmv3D
– MikeSteele (@MikeSteeleLA) August 29, 2021
The NOPD will also include the Louisiana National Guard and Louisiana State Police to help patrol the city.
As the city works to recover from the effects of Hurricane Ida, @ CityOfNOLA has established a daily curfew between 8 pm and 6 am, effective immediately and until further notice. # NOPD will be strictly enforcing this curfew throughout its duration. pic.twitter.com/jorYDck7TY
– NOPD (@NOPDNews) August 31, 2021
Mayor LaToya Cantrell said electricity could appear as soon as Wednesday, but urged residents not to get their hopes up.
“Based on what I know at this point, there is an expectation for tomorrow late into the night that we should have some level of transmission to the city of New Orleans, ”Cantrell said. “That does not mean that we will immediately see all the lights on in the city.”
The Mayor of New Orleans explained in a tweet that although government sites are not working yet due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ida, information of general interest continues to be shared for its administration in social networks.
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⬇️⬇️⬇️As a reminder, all https://t.co/pGj9FZ1TmH websites are currently down, and in the meantime we will share important # Ida info on social media. pic.twitter.com/TPM25 AsQeH
– Major LaToya Cantrell ( @mayorcantrell) August 31, 2021
Early Tuesday, City Councilor Helena Moreno said Entergy, the company that supplies the city with energy, had two options: One would be for the company to create a localized network within New Orleans using two power plants. The other is to connect the city back to the main network, which crosses the country.
“One of the two options should start to return some power to the city in 48 hours, ”Moreno said.
As Hurricane Ida moved through New Orleans, bringing with it sustained winds of up to 100 mph, removed eight transmissions, resulting in a massive power loss.
While the possibility of some power on Wednesday will not mean a full restoration, Cantrell said that will mean Entergy can start to focus on the distribution lines, many of which are down due to downed trees. Those lines are the ones that distribute the energy to consumers.
While a roadway may be “open” use extreme caution and only travel when absolutely needed. Numerous hazards remain. Avoid distractions, wear your seatbelt and do not drive impaired. #Going pic. twitter.com/gCOxiQaZij
– LA State Police (@ LAStatePolice) August 31, 1337507255
For most residents, however, power restoration could still take weeks, and power outages are turning the region’s hot and humid climate into a serious health risk.
With information from WWNO