Ten days have passed since Hurricane Ida broke southeast Louisiana, and as power is restored to more homes and businesses, many evacuees are ready to return home.
Recovery efforts in the New Orleans area have begun, but much work remains to be done. What should those who return know? Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions:
Which areas have power? What about the internet?
As of Wednesday, about 286,000 electricity customers in the New Orleans area were still without electricity.
The map shows energy restoration efforts since Ida attacked the area on August 29th. (Source of the map: Entergy, from 3 pm on September 8)
In New Orleans, 28,000 New Orleans Entergy customers without electricity, according to company executives. At Jefferson Parish, about 88,000 Entergy Louisiana customers were without electricity.
Cox Communications said Wednesday it restored Internet service to 60 percent of the New Orleans area.
Is it safe to drink water? Wash the toilet?
In New Orleans, water is still safe to drink and has been from Ida, according to the Sewerage & Water Board. However, officials still asked residents to conserve water by avoiding the use of heavy water machines and limiting toilet washing. But they said Monday they hoped to resume normal operations soon, allowing residents to use the water freely again.
In Jefferson Parish, water is drinkable everywhere except Grand Isle. Boiling water warnings were previously lifted on the east and west banks.
Those living in other parishes should consult with their local governments to see the latest tips on water use.
Are there any grocery stores open? What is available?
Shoppers were stocked with ice, cleaning supplies, food and drink when Lakeview Grocery reopened Tuesday morning, two days after Hurricane Ida ended services in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Louis. Tammany and the neighboring parishes.
Grocery stores have reopened since the storm arrived and major chains such as Rouses, Walmart and Winn-Dixie have reopened several locations.
Here is an ongoing list of WWL TV.
What restaurants are open?
New Orleans restaurants are also resuming operations as energy is gradually restored, although most have a small staff and have limited menus. Here’s the latest from gastronomic writer Ian McNulty.
And gasoline? Is it easy to find?
As the lights turn on around New Orleans East, Kenley Robinson waits for a gas queue at the Brothers Shell gas station on Bullard Avenue in New Orleans on Wednesday, September 1, 2021. Hurricane Ida bring down power in most of the New Orleans region. (Photo by David Grunfeld staff, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Long lines at New Orleans stations have begun to shrink, although Louisiana’s fuel shortage is not over.
According to GasBuddy, which tracks station outages and is used by state officials when mapping Louisiana’s fuel situation, 55.6% of New Orleans stations had no gas and 39% had no diesel on Wednesday. .
Here is a map showing which stations have gasoline or not.
Is garbage being collected? What about storm debris?
In New Orleans, residential garbage collection began Sept. 2, but city officials said the collection could be small until contractors are fully fed. Recycling on the edge is suspended.
Garbage collection began on Tuesday and may take months to complete. Officials asked residents to separate the waste into piles according to the type of waste and place it between the curb and the sidewalk in front of their home.
In Jefferson Parish, garbage and residential waste collection began Monday. Residents were asked to separate the waste into piles and place it on the curb without blocking roads, ditches, drains, catchment basins or fire hydrants. Recycling has been suspended. Garbage trucks did not yet have regularly scheduled routes. Jefferson Parish residents can also track the progress of garbage disposal using an interactive map.
Check with your local government to see if garbage or garbage collection has resumed in your area.
Has mail delivery resumed?
The U.S. Postal Service has resumed mail operations in most of southeastern Louisiana. Almost all post offices starting with zip codes 700, 701, 703 and 704 have reopened.
My fridge is a mess. How can I get rid of the smell?
Here are some tips on how to clean and deodorize your refrigerator when you return.
And as State Senator Karen Carter Peterson reminds us, don’t forget to clean the pan at the bottom of the fridge.
Whatever you do … don’t forget to clean the fridge pan underneath. “After Katrina, I couldn’t figure out why it stunk in the fridge like the fish I’d thrown away for four months.”#idafridgetalk #ida
– KarenCarterPeterson (@TeamKCP) September 8, 2021