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Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac Information
Updates for September 3, 2012
Bonnet Carre' Spillway - CLOSED to the public due to TS/Hurricane Isaac. Please refrain from accessing any area within the Spillway including the Parish Recreation Area, Parish and Corps Boat Launches, and ATV Area 1 & 2. The Spillway will be reopened on Tuesday, September 4, 2012.
- Continue to work with state and federal partners to ensure a coordinated federal response to Isaac.
- Damage assessment teams on the ground in areas impacted by Isaac.
- Opening the remaining portions of HSDRRS
- Resume freshwater barging for lower Mississippi River
Updates for September 2, 2012
Bonnet Carre' Spillway - CLOSED to the public due to TS/Hurricane Isaac. Please refrain from accessing any area within the Spillway including the Parish Recreation Area, Parish and Corps Boat Launches, and ATV Area 1 & 2. The Spillway will be reopened on Tuesday, September 4, 2012.
- Seabrook Floodgate - opened
- West Closure Complex - opened
Updates for September 1, 2012
Bonnet Carre' Spillway - CLOSED to the public due to TS/Hurricane Isaac. Please refrain from accessing any area within the Spillway including the Parish Recreation Area, Parish and Corps Boat Launches, and ATV Area 1 & 2. The Spillway will be reopened on Tuesday, September 4, 2012.
- London Ave and Orleans Ave Outfalls canals - opened
- 17th Street Canal - opened
- Caernarvon Sector Gate - opened
- Bayou Dupre Sector Gate - opened
Updates for August 31, 2012
Bonnet Carre' Spillway - CLOSED to the public due to TS/Hurricane Isaac. Please refrain from accessing any area within the Spillway including the Parish Recreation Area, Parish and Corps Boat Launches, and ATV Area 1 & 2. The Spillway will be reopened on Tuesday, September 4, 2012.
- Algiers, Harvey and IHNC Locks are open and locking vessesls
- Inner Harbor Navigation Canal/Lake Borgne Surge Barrier - opened
- Harvey Sector Gate - opened
- Hwy 23 in Plaquemines Parish and Hwy 90 in St. Charles Parish - opened
Updates for August 30, 2012
The Corps of Engineers continues to monitor water levels throughout the greater New Orleans area and around the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. The determination to open any of the major closures structures throughout the system will be based on water levels and public safety.
- Starting to reopen Inner Harbor Navigation Canal/Lake Borgne Surge Barrier at 0945
- Teams begin to open Hwy 90 in St. Charles Parish and Hwy 23 in Plaquemines Parish at 1540
Corps Risk Reduction Recap for August 29, 2012 at 2100
- The Greater New Orleans District Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) is
performing as designed.
- All key closure structures in the Risk Reduction System including the IHNC Surge Barrier, Seabrook Floodgate Complex, the West Closure Complex, and the three interim control structures along Lake Pontchartrain are operating in coordination with the local parishes and flood authorities.
- The non-federal levee overtopping in Plaquemines Parish is outside of the federal system and we have Corps teams co-located in the parish providing assistance and technical support.
- Corps teams continue to monitor water levels and weather conditions throughout the Greater New Orleans Area.
Updates for August 29, 2012
HSDRRS performing as designed. We are confident in the system.
Approaching triggers to close major structures on the Westbank.
Harvey Canal sector gate closing now
The non-federal levees overtopping in Plaquemines Parish are outside of the federal system.
We have Corps teams co-located in Plaquemines Parish providing assistance and support.
Outfall canal pumps have been operating throughout the night, in coordination with Jefferson and Orleans parishes.
Corps Risk Reduction Recap for August 28, 2012 at 2100
Throughout the day, the Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District continued to operate and close major closure structures within the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System. Closures included all three gates within the IHNC Lake Borgne Surge Barrier, the Seabrook Floodgate Complex, and the London Avenue and 17th Street Outfall Canals. These closures are in addition to the Orleans Outfall Canal, which was closed late yesterday evening.
The construction closures at Hwy 90 and Hwy 23 have been completed in partnership with LA DOTD, St. Charles Parish and Plaquemines Parish.
The Corps of Engineers' closure teams continue to be on site at all major closure structures in the risk reduction system and will remain there throughout the event.
Preparations continue for Tropical Storm Isaac
UPDATES:
August 29, 2012 activity
- All key structures on the westbank are now closed
- Harvey Canal Sector Gate closed at 0800
- Starting to close West Closure Complex at 0839
August 28, 2012 activity
- Gates at 17th Street Canal started closing at 5:00 p.m.
- London Avenue Canal gates closed at 4:00 p.m.
- Seabrook Floodgate Complex was closed at 1:30 p.m.
- 10 a.m. The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier closed
- The closure of Hwy 90 in St. Charles Parish at the Davis Pond Diversion has been completed.
- The closures of Hwy 23 in Plaquemines Parish and Hwy 90 in St. Charles Parish are continuing in partnership with LA DOTD, Louisiana State Police, Plaquemines Parish and St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Departments and the parish government.
- Closure teams are on site at all major closure structures (WCC, Seabrook, IHNC Surge Barrier) and will remain there throughout the event.
- Orleans Avenue outfall canal was closed at 2300 on 8/27.
August 27, 2012
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District continues to prepare for Tropical Storm Isaac. The safety of the public is and will always be the Corps top priority.
The Corps has alerted its emergency command posts and stationed local government liaisons within all 13 coastal parishes for redundant communications. Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System emergency management teams will be stationed at project sites including the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex, Seabrook Floodgate Complex, Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier, and all outfall canals to operate the structures as required.
In preparation for the storm’s landfall, the Corps has closed or is in the process of closing the following:
Hero Canal: 23 of 70+ closures along the canal are closed. Other major structures are still in the process of being closed;
Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier: Barge gate in place / closed; Vertical lift gate at Bayou Bienvenue closed; sector gate will close once conditions warrant.
Bayou Dupre: Sector gate closed;
Please keep in touch with local parish levee districts and emergency services for more information.
The Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) is better than at any time in its history, providing greatly reduced risk of flooding from hurricane surges.
The infrastructure in place is stronger and more resilient than it has ever been, reducing the risk of flooding from hurricane storm surge to its lowest levels ever. The Corps and its partners have raised and strengthened virtually all of the levees, floodwalls and surge barriers that form the 133-mile Greater New Orleans HSDRRS perimeter. Construction of surge barriers at Lake Borgne, Seabrook, the New Orleans Outfall Canals and the West Closure Complex have pushed the line of defense outside of the city and removed about 68 miles of interior levees and floodwalls from exposure to storm surges.
EMPLOYEE INFORMATION:
This information is current as of 2030 Wednesday, August the 29th. Due to the impacts of Hurricane Isaac, the decision has been made to close the District to all nonessential employees through, Friday, August 31st. Employees will be placed on administrative leave for those days. At this time, employees are expected to report back to work on Tuesday, September the 4th. Please remember to maintain your focus on your safety and the safety of your family.
Mission essential employees should be communicating with their supervisors with regards to work assignments. Also, Division and Office Chiefs will begin contacting members on the various teams needed to begin the response and recovery mission and providing them with specific instructions on reporting for duty.
Division and Office Chiefs are required to provide COL Fleming with 100% accountability of their employees by 7am on Friday, August the 31st. Supervisors will be making contact to gather information so that COL Fleming is assured of the safety of the workforce and their families. Please be responsive and return calls so that this information can be gathered.
Employees are reminded to continue to monitor information with regards to returning to the District on Tuesday. Employees can call on the District's Employee Information Line (1-877-533-5224), monitor the District's webpage (www.mvn.usace.army.mil), or follow information on the District's facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/usacenola).
Employees need to continue maintaining situational awareness and always keep their safety and the safety of their family in mind.
The Child Care Center and First Castle Federal Union will be closed through Friday, August 31
CLOSURES:
August 29, 2012
All key structures on the westbank are now closed
August 28, 2012
17th Street Outfall Canals closed
London Avenue Canal gates closed at 4:00 p.m.
Seabrook Floodgate Complex was closed at 1:30 p.m.
Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier sector gate was closed at 10:40 a.m.
Hwy 23 Southbound closure is complete. Material is being staged in preparation for beginning of the Northbound closure at 6 AM.
Hwy 90 Westbound closure is complete. Material is being staged in preparation for beginning of the Eastbound closure at 6 AM.
August 27, 2012
Bonnet Carre' Spillway - CLOSED to the public due to TS/Hurricane Isaac and the mandatory evacuation issued on Sunday 8/26/2012 by St. Charles Parish. Please refrain from accessing any area within the Spillway including the Parish Rec Area, Parish and Corps Boat Launches, and ATV Area 1 & 2. The Spillway will be reopened once the storm has passed and the area has been determined safe.
First Castle Federal Credit Union and all their branches will be closed Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29 due to Tropical Storm Isaac.
The IHNC Lock is closed to inbound traffic. Only outbound vessel traffic is allowed at this time.
PRESS RELEASES:
Preparations continue for Tropical Storm Isaac - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=592
Highway 23 to close in Plaquemines Parish - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=593
Road to close at Highway 90 in St. Charles Parish - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=594
Corps of Engineers to close Inner Harbor Navigation Canal-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier barge gate for the first time for storm event - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=595
Corps of Engineers closes Seabrook Floodgate Complex for the first time for storm event - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=596
Corps closes gates at London Avenue Canal - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=597
Corps of Engineers closes and operates West Closure Complex for the first time for storm event - http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/news/view.asp?ID=598
Contact
Webmaster
504-862-1606
webmaster-mvn@usace.army.mil
Updated 9/3/2012
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