WWNO skyline header graphic
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Local Newscast
Hear the latest from the WWNO/WRKF Newsroom.

Support local, independent journalism on WWNO with your Member Fest gift now! Click the donate button or Call 844-790-1094.

Corps Of Engineers Tests Pumping System Ahead Of Hurricane Season

Eileen Fleming
/
WWNO
17th Street pumps

As hurricane season approaches, the Army Corps of Engineers is making sure area pumping stations are operating properly. The system is working as planned.

It’s the sound the Corps wanted to hear – water gushing from the 17th Street structure into Lake Pontchartrain.

Heath Jones is the emergency manager for the Corps’ New Orleans District.

“This is the temporary structure on the 17th Street canal that was built after Hurricane Katrina.  It was brought on line the year after Katrina. It’s been the temporary protection for this canal since that time. Behind us is the permanent structure, so this temporary structure will be used for one more year and then we hope to have that one on line for next hurricane season," he said.

There are 43 pumps and 11 gates at the 17th Street facility that prevents storm surge from entering the canal from the lake. They’re tested twice a month during hurricane season – once a month off-season.  Similar structures are on line at London and Orleans avenues.

Hurricane season officially starts June 1st.

Eileen is a news reporter and producer for WWNO. She researches, reports and produces the local daily news items. Eileen relocated to New Orleans in 2008 after working as a writer and producer with the Associated Press in Washington, D.C. for seven years.

👋 Looks like you could use more news. Sign up for our newsletters.

* indicates required
New Orleans Public Radio News
New Orleans Public Radio Info