As a saltwater wedge makes its way towards the New Orleans metro businesses of all kinds are preparing and keeping cautious.“We’re kind of concerned about the ice and will we be able to cook with the water? I guess only time will tell,” said Jason Seither, who owns Seither’s Seafood in Jefferson Parish.Seither says he has stocked up on bottled water and is considering a move to a limited menu with only food that isn’t cooked in water if needed.The concerns are growing for business owners and tourism leaders as fall festival season and basketball season get ready to ramp up in and around the Big Easy. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says the city is open for tourism but keeping its ear and options open.“We’re looking at this from the standpoint of preparation, communication, answering out visitors’ questions, making sure that they know that situation and that they know when they can come to the city, and we want to make sure it’s not only about the visitors but all of us who live and work here too,” said Schulz.The ports that use the river to move cargo also say they’re listening to experts but don’t expect to be affected. They even say construction that will raise an underwater sill built by the Army Corps of Engineers to 60 feet will not slow down shipping. A representative from the Port of New Orleans released this statement. “To date, the low river has not impacted vessel traffic or operations at the port of New Orleans. Our waterfront teams will continue to work diligently to conduct sounding and dredging at our facilities in order to maintain river depth for port operations.” The Port of South Louisiana and Plaquemines Port also say they won’t take a hit. The Army Corps of Engineers currently forecasts that the saltwater could begin affecting Orleans Parish on Oct. 22.
NEW ORLEANS —
As a saltwater wedge makes its way towards the New Orleans metro businesses of all kinds are preparing and keeping cautious.
“We’re kind of concerned about the ice and will we be able to cook with the water? I guess only time will tell,” said Jason Seither, who owns Seither’s Seafood in Jefferson Parish.
Seither says he has stocked up on bottled water and is considering a move to a limited menu with only food that isn’t cooked in water if needed.
The concerns are growing for business owners and tourism leaders as fall festival season and basketball season get ready to ramp up in and around the Big Easy. Kelly Schulz with New Orleans and Company says the city is open for tourism but keeping its ear and options open.
“We’re looking at this from the standpoint of preparation, communication, answering out visitors’ questions, making sure that they know that situation and that they know when they can come to the city, and we want to make sure it’s not only about the visitors but all of us who live and work here too,” said Schulz.
The ports that use the river to move cargo also say they’re listening to experts but don’t expect to be affected. They even say construction that will raise an underwater sill built by the Army Corps of Engineers to 60 feet will not slow down shipping. A representative from the Port of New Orleans released this statement.
“To date, the low river has not impacted vessel traffic or operations at the port of New Orleans. Our waterfront teams will continue to work diligently to conduct sounding and dredging at our facilities in order to maintain river depth for port operations.”
The Port of South Louisiana and Plaquemines Port also say they won’t take a hit.
The Army Corps of Engineers currently forecasts that the saltwater could begin affecting Orleans Parish on Oct. 22.