About Us
Protecting Greater New Orleans from hurricane and storm surge flooding
Our Mission
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East (SLFPA-E) was established after Hurricane Katrina as the regional governmental body responsible for a restored, strengthened, and enhanced multi-parish integrated hurricane and flood protection system.
The Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction System
More than a million neighbors in New Orleans and its surrounding areas are better protected from hurricane-driven flooding today than ever before.
The $14,600,000,000 Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS) provides defense against a 100-year storm surge for the citizens of Southeast Louisiana, including Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parishes.
Our Responsibilities
Operate & Maintain
We operate and maintain the HSDRRS infrastructure 24/7, ensuring all systems are ready to protect our community at a moment's notice.
- Regular inspections of levees, floodwalls, and gates
- Vegetation management and erosion control
- Equipment maintenance and testing
Storm Response
When storms threaten, we activate our emergency protocols to close floodgates, monitor water levels, and coordinate with emergency management agencies.
- Close sector gates and floodgates before storm arrival
- Monitor surge levels throughout the system
- Coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies
Permitting & Compliance
We review and issue permits for any work on or near flood protection infrastructure to ensure system integrity is maintained.
- Construction permits near levees
- Utility crossing permits
- Encroachment reviews
Surge Protection vs. Drainage
Greater New Orleans has two separate flood protection systems run by two separate agencies. SLFPA-E is the outer perimeter: we keep hurricane surge and lake water out. The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) handles everything inside that perimeter: drainage pumps, storm drains, drinking water, and sewage. We do not operate drainage pump stations, and SWBNO does not operate levees or floodgates. The two systems are complementary but independent.
SLFPA-E (Us)
We protect against storm surge from hurricanes, tropical storms, and high tides.
- ✓Levees, floodwalls, and surge barriers
- ✓Floodgates that close during storms
- ✓Permanent Canal Closure Pump Stations (PCCP)
- ✓Lake Borgne Surge Barrier
- ✓Protection from Lake Pontchartrain & Gulf of Mexico
SWBNO (Sewerage & Water Board)
They manage rainwater drainage, drinking water, and sewage services.
- •Drainage pump stations that remove rainwater
- •Storm drains and underground canals
- •Drinking water treatment and distribution
- •Sewage collection and treatment
- •Street flooding from heavy rain
Where the Systems Connect
During a storm, SLFPA-E closes the floodgates at the outfall canals to block surge from entering the city. While those gates are closed, SWBNO's drainage pumps push rainwater into those same canals. Our Permanent Canal Closure Pump Stations (PCCPs) at 17th Street, Orleans Avenue, and London Avenue then pump that water over the gates and out to Lake Pontchartrain. That handoff is the one point where the two systems meet.
Reporting an issue? If your concern is about street flooding, drainage, water service, or sewage, contact the Sewerage & Water Board at 504-529-2837 or swbno.org. For concerns about levees, floodgates, or storm surge protection, contact us.
Our Governance
SLFPA-E is governed by a board of commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Louisiana Senate. The Authority oversees two levee districts:
- Orleans Levee District (OLD) - Serving Orleans Parish
- East Jefferson Levee District (EJLD) - Serving Jefferson Parish (East Bank)
Together, these districts are responsible for protecting more than one million residents across Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parishes.