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Electrical Power
Entergy announced that power has been restored to 75% of its customers in the affected areas, and that 18% of Orleans Parish already has full power. Entergy says that the French Quarter will have full power restored by Sept. 23.
Power restoration is progressing so well that the mayor allowed credentialed business owners back into the French Quarter and CBD on Saturday. He has said that business owners and residents may begin returning to Algiers, the Warehouse District, the Garden District and parts of Uptown beginning as early as Monday.
However, in light of the possibility of another hurricane (currently Tropical Storm Rita) approaching the Gulf Coast, Nagin suspended all re-entry into the city Monday evening and ordered residents who had snuck in to restricted areas to depart immediately. Business owners and residents who had returned under the re-entry plan stand poised to evacuate if Rita necessitates an evacuation order to be called in the coming days.
Several areas, including much of Algiers, have power back up and operating. These areas include those around NASA, pumping stations 6 and 7, the Crescent City Connection, the Port of New Orleans, office buildings in the CBD, the Bell South building, much of the Convention Center, various hotels (including the Marriott, Sheratonm, Hyatt and W hotels) and much more.
The City is working on priority lists to restore power where it is needed most, including hospitals, public safety sites and the Sewerage and Water Board facilities, which are critical to getting water pressure, purified water, and sewerage systems flowing again. Restoring power to the downtown grid, including the CBD and many hotels, is also important in order to service recovery workers housed there.
Many pumps are online and operating. Work continues on pumping down vaults, inspecting infrastructure, patrolling and assessing overhead and feeder lines and energizing areas where it is safe.
Entergy reports St. Tammany power is more than 99 percent restored, and Cleco reports that it has restored power to 81% of its St. Tammany customers.
For more information, visit the Entergy Web site at www.entergy.com .
Telecommunications and Internet
Cell and landline phone services are coming back quickly now, extremely high call volume during certain prime time periods does still overload circuits. Long distance lines are also frequently difficult to access throughout Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast due to high call volume.
Only those New Orleans hotels with corporate-housed servers in other cities can achieve any Internet access.
Communication with anyone within New Orleans is still occasionally very difficult.
Water
Water service restored has been restored in Algiers, where the boil order has been lifted. Elsewhere in Orleans parish, water remains unsafe to drink or bathe in. The boil-water order has been lifted for most of St. Tammany Parish, but some isolated areas must still boil water. Water is safe to drink in Jefferson Parish.
Priorities established for the Sewerage and Water Board are: drainage of storm water; restoration of water service to the CBD (the sewer infrastructure is still intact in the CBD); restoration of water service to the Garden District; repair/restoration of the East Bank Waste Water Treatment Plant (according to the US Army Corps of Engineers, the water purification plant is operating and chlorinating the water BUT the water is not considered potable yet). Officials are also concentrating on trying to maintain firefighting water supply. Some water mains are breaking as pressure is increased, creating a few delays in restoration of services.
Gas
All of Algiers has gas service.
Work continues to assess and restore service in other parts of the city where it is safe.
Entergy crews continue to work to restore the gas supply in the French Quarter and make assessments in the CBD, Downtown and Uptown areas. Onyx Industrial Service Divers are working gas leaks in flooded areas north of I-610 in the Gentilly area.
Fire Department and Police Emergency Service
Police and fire services in Orleans Parish are limited. The 911 system is not fully functional. For emergencies please call: (504) 552-4830.
Food, Ice and Bottled Water
There are limited fuel, groceries and pharmacies available for sale in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.
Food, ice and water are being distributed at the following locations in Jefferson Parish:
- 18th St. and Edenborn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Shrewsberry Community Center, 1021 Causeway Boulevard, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- East Jefferson Hospital, open 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- 8101 Simon St., Bunche Village area
- 25th St. and Williams Blvd., open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Third St. and Filmore, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- 31st St. and Loyola Dr., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The food stamp office is re-opening in Slidell. Residents can go to the City of Slidell Auditorium on Second St. on Monday and Tuesday to register for food stamps.
Hospitals
East Jefferson, West Jefferson Medical Centers and Ochsner Hospital-New Orleans are open.
Public Schools
Orleans Parish public schools on the West Bank can re-open by November 1st, earlier than officials projected. For Orleans Parish public school information, call (877) 771-5800.
Public Schools are set to restart on Oct. 3 in Jefferson Parish.
Registration opens Sept. 20 for students wishing to enroll in St. Tammany public schools, which will reopen on Oct. 3.
Garbage Service
Garbage service is operating in most parts of St. Tammany Parish.
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