Parish officials are fully prepared for severe weather ahead

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — As the wind speed picked up on Friday, parish officials began preparing for severe weather expected for Saturday.

“We’re going to get a pretty significant front coming through, with a line of thunderstorms,” said New Orleans Homeland Security Director Collin Arnold.

“Here in Jefferson Parish, high winds that could be over 60 miles per hour, winds, hail,” said Jefferson Parish Chief Administrative Assistant Sarah Babcock.

Babcock says Terrytown Playground will be open as a shelter for people and pets.

“It is our building with the highest wind rating. That building was built after Katrina, to be able to stand, and withstand hurricane-force winds,” said Babcock.

In New Orleans, Arnold says flooding is the least of his concerns. He is more worried about wind, lightning and the possibility of isolated tornadoes. With the emergency operations center activated, he urges people to stay indoors.

“Keep track of that front, and realize that, you know, traveling through that if you’re traveling on the interstates or anywhere within the city during that time. We’ll obviously do the normal outreach, particularly to the unhoused community and those that don’t have a place to go,” said Arnold.

The Louisiana Red Cross also ensures responders will be on standby in case of emergency.

“We are watching the weather, but we’re also reaching out, making sure that we’re contacting our volunteers to make sure that they’re kind of on standby in case they have to be deployed. Making sure we prepare by making sure that the supplies that we think we may need are on standby and ready to go,” said Louisiana Red Cross CEO Dr. Kenneth St. Charles.

Officials have a couple of last reminders for residents.

“We want to make sure residents take things in that are going to blow around. Please do not put things up on the parade route for a Sunday until the storm passes,” said Babcock.

“Don’t use any flames, any candles for lighting, especially with some type of tornado or weather, because you never know if there’s gas in the area,” said St. Charles.

Residents are asked to monitor the storm from indoors and to download your parish alert notifications.

To receive weather alerts, maintain access to TV, radio and mobile devices. You can also receive emergency alerts from Jefferson Parish by texting JPALERT or jpnoticias to 888-777.

To receive weather alerts, maintain access to TV, radio, and mobile devices. You can also receive emergency alerts from Orleans Parish by texting NOLAREADY to 77295.

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