<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"Mayor Mitch Landrieu declared a state of emergency ahead of Tropical Storm Karen on Friday.\u201CWe have a plan in place to secure the city and we are taking all necessary precautions to prepare for Tropical Storm Karen,\u201D Landrieu said. \u201CNow is the time to prepare for whatever may come our way. As we all have learned, these storms can be unpredictable, so we must continue to stay alert and ready to adjust as the situation develops.\u201DIn a news conference earlier in the day, Landrieu was accompanied by numerous other city and community leaders, where he said New Orleans is ready for Tropical Storm Karen.Watch news conference\"I think that we're going to be OK,\" said Mayor Landrieu.\u00A0 \"I feel very comfortable given what we're seeing out there, that this should be a blip on our radar screen.\"The mayor went on to say that doesn't mean the city is taking Karen lightly.\"Everybody needs to pay attention and to be vigilant, because as we know, these things have minds of their own,\" Landrieu added.The city of New Orleans is operating as usual.\u00A0 All city departments are on stand-by and ready to respond to whatever this weather event brings to the Crescent City.All eight police districts will remain open and fully operational.\u00A0 The city is extending 311 services Friday and resuming services Saturday morning.Residents will be allowed to park their vehicles on the neutral ground, with the exception of streetcar service areas.Entergy New Orleans has 1,000 employees in position, ready to respond and restore service if needed.According to the Army Corp of Engineers, all levees and flood protection systems are ready and working properly.The city plans to hold regular updates throughout this weather event.In advance of the weather, the city, is asking residents to take the following precautions:* Prepare to shelter in place with food, water, and medications needed in the event of loss of water and/ or power.* Clean or clear gutters and catch basins near your home.* Bring in or secure any loose objects outside.* Check on your neighbors and the elderly to make sure they are prepared.* Regular trash pickup will occur Saturday. Once trash is picked up, residents should secure trash cans.* Board up your windows or hatch down shutters.Landrieu strongly encouraged residents who live outside the city\u2019s levee protection system or in low-lying areas, including the Venetian Isles, Fort Pike, Irish Bayou\u00A0 and Lake Catherine, to be prepared for elevated tidal surge and impassable roadways.Related:Parish-by-Parish: Tropical Storm KarenLive coverage of Tropical Storm KarenDownload the WDSU Hurricane Central app for iPhone or the Android for constant hurricane updates.Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here from your desktop computer to sign up; on our mobile website, use the drop down to the right to \"Get Email Alerts.\""^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-mayor-declares-state-of-emergency-ahead-of-tropical-storm-karen/3366157>