Flood protection crews closed dozens of gates and several major structures Tuesday evening as Tropical Storm Bertha approached Southeast Louisiana.
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East completed all of its planned storm protection operations and kept its Emergency Operations Center fully activated overnight.
Crews closed six major structures and 36 land-based floodgates across the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.
The six structures are:
- IHNC Lake Borgne Surge Barrier Sector Gate
- IHNC Lake Borgne Surge Barrier Lift Gate
- Seabrook Sector Gate
- Bayou Bienvenue Floodgate
- Bayou Dupre Control Structure
- Caernarvon Canal Sector Gate
Engineers, operators, maintenance crews and emergency management staff continued monitoring the weather, water levels, tides and the performance of the flood protection system.
The authority did not plan to close any additional land-based floodgates as of Tuesday evening.
Regional Director L. Jeff Williams described the completed closures as an important step in the authority’s storm preparations. He emphasized that crews would remain on duty after the gates closed.
“Our teams remain fully engaged and will continue monitoring conditions around the clock to ensure the flood risk reduction system performs as intended,” Williams said. “We will adjust operations as necessary based on changing conditions and reopen structures only when it is safe to do so.”
The authority will continue working with local, state and federal emergency management agencies throughout the storm. Crews will also monitor Bertha’s track and any possible effects across Southeast Louisiana.
Residents can follow local weather reports and check FPA Lens for updates on gate closures, infrastructure and other Flood Authority operations.
The Flood Protection Authority-East operates and maintains flood defense infrastructure on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes. The system includes levees, floodwalls, floodgates and other components.
READ MORE:Flood Authority activates emergency operations for Tropical Storm Bertha
