New Orleans is in a waiting game as the Gulf Coast braces for Hurricane Harvey to make landfall in Texas Friday night. City officials have not called for evacuations, but coastal parishes are under flood advisories. Vermillion Parish has called for voluntary evacuations and parts of Cameron Parish are under mandatory evacuation.
Mayor Mitch Landrieu held a press conference with city officials to offer updates.
"Because the hurricane is not forecasted to come here at this time, we do not see the need for evacuations — unless the hurricane direction begins to change, and we will revisit that issue," says Landrieu.
Five to 10 inches of rain could fall in the New Orleans area by mid-week. Drainage is still a problem, 106 of the city's 120 pumps are working.
Sandbags are available at the following New Orleans Fire Department stations.
- Station 13: 987 Robert E. Lee Blvd.
- Station 16: 2000 Martin Luther King Blvd.
- Station 17: 4115 Woodland Ave.
- Station 27: 2118 Elysian Fields Ave.
- Station 36: 5403 Read Road
On Sunday, the city will announce whether there will be school closures next week.