Tropical Barry bears down on the Gulf of Mexico

Go or stay? It is a question people in and around New Orleans ask themselves every time a threatening storm lurks in the Gulf: a major hurricane like Katrina, which devastated the area in 2005 when levees failed, and now Tropical Storm Barry, which forecasters said was unlikely to become a ferocious hurricane but could still bring historic levels of rain and devastating floods. The dilemma is one that confronts people anywhere, but New Orleans has a unique set of circumstances: It’s particularly susceptible to hurricanes and flooding and, as underscored by Katrina 14 years ago, many of its people are poor. They don’t have the financial means or transportation to leave, and after a storm, they lack the resources to rebuild and recover.

Section:Gallery

Fri., July 12, 2019

People walk past Brennan’s restaurant in the French Quarter with sandbags on the front door as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
Terrence Watkins and his son Kang, 3, load up with water and other supplies in New Orleans, Friday, July 12, 2019, as Tropical Storm Barry threatens.

Kevin Mcgill Associated Press
People work quickly at a sandbag station provided by local bar the Mid-City Yacht Club in New Orleans, La. Friday, July 12, 2019. The city did not provide sandbag stations on the lead up to Tropical Storm Barry this weekend. The system in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to make landfall, possibly as a hurricane, near Morgan City on Saturday morning.

Max Becherer Associated Press
Alan and Dot Richardson, from England, wear ponchos as they walk along Bourbon Street in the French Quarter Friday, July 12, 2019, in New Orleans, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry. The National Weather Service in New Orleans says water is already starting to cover some low lying roads as Tropical Storm Barry approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
Ray Leon walks up steps after swimming in the Mississippi River Friday, July 12, 2019, in New Orleans, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry. The National Weather Service in New Orleans says water is already starting to cover some low lying roads as Tropical Storm Barry approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
Duncan Pace, right, takes photos of his daughter, Spring, 9, near Jackson Square in the French Quarter Friday, July 12, 2019, in New Orleans, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry. The National Weather Service in New Orleans says water is already starting to cover some low lying roads as Tropical Storm Barry approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
Passengers move through the terminal at the Louis Armstrong Airport in Kenner, La. Friday, July 12, 2019. The system in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to make landfall, possibly as a hurricane, near Morgan City on Saturday morning.

Max Becherer Associated Press
A woman takes photographs as a tropical storm churns up the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019. The tropical wave may form into a tropical storm or hurricane that would be named Barry.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
An SUV travels down Breakwater Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, near the Orleans Marina as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is behind a flood wall that protects the rest of the city.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
Ana Puerto, and her Yorkie dog, Fluffy, enjoy the waves on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is behind a levee that protects the rest of the city.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
Brothers Brantley, 7, left, Brody, 8, and Bryce O’Hara, 11, play in the waves on Lakeshore Drive With their grandfather Rick O’Hara in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is behind a levee that protects the rest of the city.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
Brothers Brantley, 7, Bryce, 11, and Brody O’Hara, 8, play in the waves on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is behind a levee that protects the rest of the city.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
People check out the waves on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is behind a levee that protects the rest of the city.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
Vehicles make their way on Interstate 10 freeway as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
Vehicles make their way on Interstate 10 highway as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press
This satellite image provided by NASA taken by U.S. Astronaut Christina Koch on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at the International Space Station, shows Tropical Storm Barry as it bears down on Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida as it makes its way through the Gulf of Mexico.

Christina Koch Associated Press
Tiffany Favre, left, and her son, Brandon, use blocks to raise their couch off the floor Friday, July 12, 2019, in Baton Rouge, La., ahead of Tropical Storm Barry. The National Weather Service in New Orleans says water is already starting to cover some low lying roads as Tropical Storm Barry approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico.

David J. Phillip Associated Press
A musician plays in the French Quarter before landfall of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019.

Matthew Hinton Associated Press