The City of New Orleans issued a curfew beginning Tuesday due to mass power outages and significant amounts of debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. The curfew went into effect Tuesday night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
According to New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson, ‘there is absolutely no reason anyone should be on the streets.’ Ferguson followed up the announcement of a curfew saying there have been some issues of looting, with several arrests made, and general safety as New Orleans remains in the dark since Ida’s Sunday landfall. The New Orleans police department (NOPD) will also have the Louisiana National Guard and Louisiana State Police to assist with patrolling the city.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said power could show up as soon as Wednesday, but she urged residents not to get their hopes up. “Based on what I know at this time, there is an expectation by tomorrow late afternoon, into the evening, that we should have some level of transmission to the city of New Orleans,” Cantrell said. “That does not mean we will immediately see all the lights on in the city.” Additionally, while the possibility of power on Wednesday will not mean complete restoration, Cantrell said it will mean Entergy can start focusing on distribution lines, many of which are wrapped up in trees. For most residents, however, power restoration could still take weeks.
