Orleans Levee District

General information

How Your Flood Defense System Works:

BEFORE:
Preparation for the next hurricane season always begins the day after the previous season ends. Throughout the year, the Flood Protection Authority inspects, maintains and regularly exercises all components of the flood risk reduction system. Our emergency procedures are consistently updated and we practice “drill runs” by using those procedures to ensure that our employees are prepared to respond to any potential flood threat.

DURING:
As a storm approaches, we begin the systematic closing of valves, flood gates, lift gates, and sector gates. During a storm, all of our essential employees stay in safe houses while monitoring each flood protection component to make sure they are operating properly.

AFTER:
After the storm has passed and the emergency is over, we systematically inspect all of the flood protection components to determine if any damages occurred and immediately repair them to make sure they are ready for the next threat. We then reopen all of the floodgates.