Centrifugal Water Pumps and  HDPE Pipe Put Into Immediate Action After Hurricane Katrina Hits New Orleans

Temporary pumps move floodwaters through the repaired 17th Street canal levee in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
 (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Less than a year after Hurricane Ivan, Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast devastating parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. 

The Mississippi Coast was slammed with horrendous winds and an estimated 30' wall of water affecting vital infrastructures. Major power generating plants, chemical plants, municipal water and sewer facilities, and communications were severely damaged or totally inoperable.  Beach front property was now non-existent as the houses and businesses that once supported the economy were completely destroyed.

In New Orleans, storm water surge and severe winds from Hurricane Katrina caused large sections of the 17th Street Canal levee to wash away. The breach allowed water from Lake Pontchartrain to pour into the city, destroying lives, homes and businesses.

Several  emergency response crews realized the need to dewater the City quickly and called Rain for Rent to provide temporary pumps, piping and water storage tanks.  The floodwaters had to be pumped back into several canals that run between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. Rain for Rent's Gulf Coast Strategic Emergency Response Teams began handling logistics and responding to the immediate needs for pumping and water storage equipment.  All 50 Rain for Rent branches and 850 employees across the nation worked together to transfer equipment and personnel to assist with the dewatering efforts.

Rain for Rent continues to work closely with federal and local government emergency response agencies and contractors to aide in the dewatering effort by providing hydraulic axial flow pumps (19,000 gallons per minute), DV-400 (14,000 gpm) and smaller pumps throughout the region. Many tanks have also been provided to store standby generator fuel and wastewater.

New Orleans resident and Rain for Rent Sales Representative, Mark Ippolito, said, “There is total devastation in this area. Never have I seen anything that bad, and I hope to never see it again. To be part of the recovery and to help in the process of emptying the city of water – I take a lot of pride in that.  I'm proud to represent Rain for Rent and help my city.”

Nick Ferris, Manager of the Rain for Rent Baton Rouge branch acknowledges that the devastation in New Orleans will not be cleaned up for a very long time.  In the meantime, his priorities are to take care of all employees and see that they remain safe while providing customers with necessary services.

Jerry Williams, Mobile Branch Manager, said “The greatest challenge for the citizens living in the devastated areas will be the patience to endure the rebuilding process.  With only memories of family portraits, favorite rooms and the peacefulness of Southern Coastal living, these people will need months, if not years, to put their lives together again.  They will rebuild their cities and communities, move forward and regain the life they held dear.  Just as the only thing that is certain is change, the people of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama will reemerge as a hospitable, hard working and successful part of this great nation.”