5 proposed solutions to improve storm response in New Orleans
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Entergy New Orleans officials went before City Council yesterday to answer questions about the utility's response to Hurricane Francine. Photo: Carlie Kollath Wells/Axios
The New Orleans City Council is pressing for utilities to provide faster and more simplified emergency messages to residents during storms.
Why it matters: Council members say there is much to learn from the response to Hurricane Francine.
The big picture: City Council spent more than four hours on Monday grilling Entergy New Orleans, Sewerage & Water Board and other agencies about their response during Francine.
- The central message is that New Orleanians need more information and in a more timely manner.
- "We already have a city that has been through so many flood and hurricane events that the residents here, especially the residents who stay here, they have an element of PTSD about it," Councilmember JP Morrell said. "When given information and treated like adults, we can make adult decisions."
- Members were particularly frustrated about the lack of information on power restoration timelines and broken pumps.
What they said: Several residents and business owners spoke out at the meeting, saying Entergy failed the city.
- "We're prepared as residents but is Entergy prepared?" asked Catherine Prevost of the Upper 9th Ward. "When is the hardening going to happen?"
Zoom in: Council members recommended several solutions they say will be part of ongoing conversations.
- Coming up with a funding plan: S&WB has two weeks to present a plan for how it will come up with the estimated $17 million match needed for a federal grant to build for a new substation. Entergy previously pulled its $30 million funding.
- Better use of NOLA Ready text alerts: More than 300,000 people subscribe and the council said this should be the main place to alert people about flooding, power outages and other safety messages. They are currently coming from different channels.
- Standardizing neutral ground restrictions: Council members want NOLA Ready to have a set amount of time (maybe 12 hours before a forecasted flood event) so residents aren't waiting until the weather is bad.
- Better outage information: Entergy needs to do a better job communicating restoration timelines and warning customers if there's a planned outage, the council said. The outage map lags in real-time data, Entergy New Orleans said, and they are figuring out solutions.
- More briefings: Council members want at least one briefing a day with increasing frequency as the storm gets closer. They also want utilities to provide information quicker to news outlets so it can get out to the public faster.
Inside the room: The City Council is looking into changing the tree-trimming regulations that govern Entergy New Orleans.
- The utility can trim branches only within a 4-foot radius of its conductors. In Jefferson Parish, it has 8 feet.
- Entergy leaders cited trees and downed branches as the primary cause of power outages during Francine. They peaked statewide at 410,000. As of 4pm Monday, Entergy's outages were down to about 2,300 customers, mainly in Terrebonne Parish, where Francine made landfall.
- Officials blamed the tree canopy in Carrollton and Gentilly for the increased number of outages and longer restoration times in those neighborhoods.
What's next: The City Council is having another committee meeting Sept. 24 to discuss utility issues.
- You can attend in person at City Hall or watch the livestream.
Go deeper to see the presentations to the City Council or watch a replay