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Axios
5 days ago
- Climate
- Axios
Tropical threat puts New Orleans on high alert for flash flooding
The sandbags are filled in New Orleans, the pumps are prepped and now the region waits for the tropical system that has the potential to dump a month's worth of rain in a single day. Why it matters: New Orleanians are on edge about flash flooding, which happens too frequently in this city below sea level. The big picture: The tropical system, called Invest 93L, is in the Gulf and expected to reach Louisiana's coast Thursday. It may develop into a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center said Wednesday. It will be named Dexter if it strengthens into a tropical storm. Flooding is the biggest concern for New Orleans, according to the National Weather Service's Slidell office. Threat level: A flood watch is in effect for southeast Louisiana from Wednesday through Saturday morning. Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are expected through at least Saturday morning, NWS said. The greatest threat is Thursday and Friday. Up to 10 inches could fall in places, which is more than the average rainfall for the entire month of July, NWS said. New Orleans is most likely to get 2 to 3 inches by Saturday night, with higher totals on the coast, according to the Wednesday forecast. Between the lines: Rainfall rates in some of the storms could be more than 4 inches per hour, which is faster than the pumps can drain streets. On the street: New Orleanians waited in line for about an hour Wednesday in Gentilly to fill up sandbags to protect their homes, apartments and churches. "Hopefully, I won't need them," said Robert Johnson, a longtime Gentilly resident. "It's just erring on the side of caution." That was the vibe from others as they shoveled their bags in the sweltering heat. Their homes have flooded or gotten close to flooding in recent thunderstorms and they want to be proactive. And residents like Lynelle Batiste told Axios New Orleans they're concerned the pumps won't be able to keep up. The location had 1,000 DIY bags available, according to Councilman Eugene Green, and stayed open after the designated time due to demand. Drainage prep Drainage pumps in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish can handle 1 inch of rain the first hour and 0.5 inch per hour after that when the systems are working at full capacity. When rain falls too quickly, it overwhelms the pumps, causing street flooding. Authorities in both parishes say they are focusing on cleaning catch basins before the rain arrives. The Sewerage & Water Board said 86 of 93 major pumps (map) were working as of Wednesday. Two of its power turbines were down and available only for emergency use. All of the underpass pumps were working, SWBNO said, with the exception of one of the three that drain the Carrolton Avenue/I-10 underpass. In Jefferson Parish, all 194 pumps were working as of Tuesday, said drainage director Ben Lepine. Employees have also tested the generators and are ready to staff pumping stations 24 hours a day if needed, he said in a statement. Entergy said it is monitoring the storm and preparing for severe weather in south Louisiana. The company has materials, supplies and staffing available if needed, a spokesperson told Axios New Orleans. Go deeper
Axios
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Behind-the-scenes of Edward Buckles' Essence magazine covers
When Essence magazine twice wanted to represent New Orleans on its covers over the past two years, it turned to Edward Buckles. Why it matters: The New Orleans native opted to put locals in the spotlight. Catch up quick: In 2024, Essence Fest celebrated its 30th anniversary with a " love letter" to New Orleans for its July/August magazine. And this year, Essence offered an ode to the city's post-Katrina revival. Buckles snapped the photos for both, using local crews and production while working with creative director Chike Ozah. What he's saying: The models, Buckles tells Axios New Orleans, are "the people who I thought were reviving the spirit of New Orleans, who are culture bearers doing their own version of rebuilding the city post-Katrina." Zoom in: Buckles, who grew up in Algiers, Uptown and in the 7th Ward, is a photographer and filmmaker. He made a national name for himself with his " Katrina Babies" documentary on HBO in 2022. The project had Buckles talking with people who, like him, were young New Orleanians at the time the storm hit. Before and since then, he's thought a lot about the cultural weight of rebuilding. "I wanted to highlight children who are currently carrying the torch of New Orleans, which are children not even born during Hurricane Katrina," he says. The end result is a pair of surrealistic cover photos taken at dusk, steeped in golden pinks and purples. In one, a young ballerina leaps uncannily high into the air above an empty lot, and in the other, a young trumpet player levitates just off an empty porch. Read the cover story. "We wanted to have the kids levitating above these places that were once underwater because that's my biggest hope for them: I want them to rise above all this. .. I want them to know their history and understand they are still very much impacted by Hurricane Katrina ... but still very much rise above all that," Buckles says.
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Tyler Shough had a great response to criticism of New Orleans' food scene
'Maybe that's why you're not on the team anymore' Credit where it's due -- Tyler Shough is no stranger to the New Orleans restaurant scene. The team's new quarterback has worked hard to ingratiate himself to Saints fans and his new community, and that means doing more than learning to shuck his own oysters. It means standing on business when others turn their noses up at the food, too. Former Saints wideout Equanimeous St. Brown and his brother, Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Amon-Ra St. Brown, have found success with their St. Brown Podcast endeavors chopping it up during the season and interviewing other players around the NFL. But they've also drawn some ire for downplaying the food in New Orleans, which apparently disappointed Equanimous. During a sit-down chat with Shough at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere, he reflected on his meals in Louisiana as "overrated" and "regular," not standing out compared to other cities he'd visited. "Really?" Shough said, ducking his head and peering up at his interviewer. "Dude, maybe that's why you're not on the team anymore." They all shared a laugh at that, but good on Shough for standing up for his new hometown. As for the restaurants Shough would recommend? He said his first stops included Drago's Seafood Restaurant (famed for their oysters, which were Shough's first meal in town) and Chophouse New Orleans, a popular steakhouse but acknowledged he's still getting acclimated and is eager to learn more hot spots in the city. New Orleanians are proud of their culinary skills, and it didn't take long for Shough to learn that reputation is worth defending.
Axios
25-06-2025
- Axios
Stolen plaque replaced at site of New Orleans' deadliest fire
A stolen plaque commemorating New Orleans' deadliest fire has been replaced ahead of the blaze's 52nd anniversary on Tuesday. Why it matters: The intentionally set fire at the Up Stairs Lounge killed 32 people and was the deadliest attack on U.S. soil against the LGBTQ+ community until the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting in 2016. The big picture: Mourners will gather at 7pm Tuesday at the new plaque for a solemn ceremony to remember the dead, says Frank Perez, executive director of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. The ceremony comes after Sunday's memorial second line and the plaque dedication, he tells Axios New Orleans. The new plaque replaces one the city dedicated in 2003 at 604 Iberville St. It was stolen last year. Perez said they raised enough to fund the new plaque, insure it and pay for maintenance and some future commemorations. "It's a very good feeling, let me tell you," Perez said. Zoom in: Dannie Conner Jr., 40, was arrested in September on a theft charge, NOPD says. His motive was not immediately available. He pled guilty in March, according to court records. In the plea deal, he was credited for time served and sentenced to 100 hours of community service with Metropolitan Community Church. He also agreed to write a letter of apology to the victims. The original plaque was not recovered, NOPD says. His next status hearing is July 25. What they're saying:"After many hurdles, the plaque is home again, outside what was once a vital safe haven for gay New Orleanians when few places like that existed," wrote Councilmember JP Morrell on Facebook. He said his office helped with the permitting process. Flashback: The Up Stairs Lounge was on the second floor of a building at the corner of Iberville and Chartres streets. It opened in 1970 and gained a reputation as a welcoming place for white gay men, Black people, drag performers, transgender people and straight allies, according to the LGBT+ Archives Project. On June 24, 1973, someone lit a fire at the base of the stairs leading to the lounge. The blaze spread and killed 29 people in less than 20 minutes. Three more people died at the hospital. Nearly a third of the victims were military veterans, according to the National WWII Museum. No arrests have been made in the case more than 50 years later. By the numbers: New Orleans has one of the largest concentrations of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S., with 4.7% of the adult population identifying as members of the communities, according to UCLA's Williams Institute. Go deeper
Axios
14-06-2025
- Climate
- Axios
New Orleans hits 110°F heat index and it's just the beginning
This summer has a 50% chance of being hotter than average in New Orleans and most of Louisiana, according to the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center. Why it matters: Extreme heat is a major public health threat. It also threatens the reliability of the power grid. The big picture: New Orleans over the weekend had its first heat advisory of the season. New Orleans tied the high temp record on Saturday of 95°F. The "feels like" temp was 110°F at the airport and lakefront, according to the National Weather Service in Slidell. Temperatures are expected to be in the high-80s and low-90s all week, with daily thunderstorms possible, NWS says. The cloud cover should keep the "feels like" temp around 108°F. Yes, but: This is just the start. July and August are historically the hottest months of the year in New Orleans. Threat level: The heat has already been deadly this year. A toddler died Sunday in Hammond after being left in a hot car for more than nine hours, authorities say. Last year, 51 people died in Louisiana from heat-related causes, according to the state health department. How to protect yourself: If you are outside in the heat, drink plenty of water, wear lightweight clothes, apply sunscreen and take frequent breaks in the shade or AC, officials say. Summer's getting hotter Zoom out: Like most of the country, summer has been getting hotter in New Orleans over the past 50 years, a recently updated analysis found. The average summer temperature in New Orleans is now 4°F hotter than it was in 1970, according to Climate Central, a nonprofit climate research and communications group, using NOAA data through 2024. Zoom out: On top of rising overall temperatures, New Orleans is the among the worst " heat island" communities among all major U.S. metros, according to Climate Central. 77% of New Orleanians live in urban heat island neighborhoods, the group says. New Orleans can be more than 8°F warmer than surrounding tree-covered communities, mostly due to a lack of permeable surface. Go deeper. How to cool off Go deeper
