This plan provides a tiered, sequenced plan for repopulating the City in the aftermath of a catastrophic disaster resulting in significant degradation to the City’s ability to provide a safe and secure environment for its residents.

Click here to read the plan

When is it activated?

Only when the Mayor has declared a State of Emergency and ordered a Mandatory Evacuation and large areas of the City have suffered significant damage to infrastructure and sustainability.

When can I return to the City?

Emergency management personnel will conduct frequent assessments of existing conditions and make recommendations to the Mayor regarding re-entry. The assessments will consider indicators such as public safety, the safety of streets and roads, electrical power generating capacity, water and sewage treatment operational status, food and potable water availability, and environmental hazards. The primary consideration will be to reestablish conditions that will permit the safe return of residents and the restoration of economic viability. If conditions permit, the Mayor may authorize a temporary return to “Look and Leave” for residents and businesses in certain impacted areas if it can be done in safety and without impeding on-going rescue or recovery operations.

When is the Tier Plan placed in effect?

The Mayor decides based on Emergency Management recommendation. As a practical matter, it depends on the level of physical damage the City has suffered. Different areas of the City may be opened under different Tiers at the same time it not all areas are equally impacted, so some areas could be heavily restricted under Tier 1 while other areas with little damage are open to Tier 3.

What about Emergency Response Personnel?

They will have access to all areas within the City to perform their duties of protecting of life and property and mitigating future damage.

Who is classified as Emergency Response?

Emergency personnel will include Federal, State, and Local Fire, Police, EMS, and Medical personnel, emergency management, Active and Reserve military forces, Urban Search & Rescue Teams, Animal Rescue, logistics and transportation support, government contractors, and other emergency personnel approved by the designated Incident Commander or the Mayor.

How is re-entry the Plan organized?

It is divided into a series of tiers based on the contribution or capability of agencies, organizations, businesses to reestablish safety, security, and viability of damaged areas.

How Many Tiers Are There?

There are three Tiers in the plan: Tier 1, 2, and 3.

What sorts of agencies and businesses qualify for the different Tiers?

Tier 1 includes Federal State, and local agencies and those who provide critical services to the government and public agencies such as: government contractors, and their subcontractors who provide critical services to parish and municipal governments and other public agencies and primary critical infrastructure and major utility companies and their pre-designated sub-contractors who restore electricity, natural gas, and potable water service. Also included are volunteer rescue and response organizations, and certain private business and industry disaster assessment teams so long as they remain on site and are self-sustaining/securing.

Tier 2 is for major employers or businesses that are essential to the return of residents and the City’s economic viability such as financial institutions, maritime operations companies, wholesale food suppliers, bulk fuel distributors, manufacturing companies (fragile inventory, designated hazardous waste facility, world-wide distribution, multiple-parish service area, etc.), building supply companies, other businesses determined, non emergency healthcare providers, medical supply companies, security companies and other businesses as determined by the Mayor to be essential to the return of residents and/or to the economic vitality of the parish.

Tier 3 includes accountants, apparel sales, appliance sales & service, automotive sales, services, and/or parts, banking, broadcasting, church, cleaners, cleaning specialist, computer sales and service, construction services, contractor, financial services, food service, garbage/waste, gasoline stations, non-essential government agencies, healthcare, home improvement, hospitality, industrial supplies, insurance, attorneys, retail pharmaceutical stores, real estate, restaurants, retail groceries, storage, towing, and transportation.

How is authorized access identified?

Tier 1 and 2 access is identified by possession of a tamper-proof dashboard placard issued by the City. Tier 3 re-entry is based on possession of an official Louisiana Driver’s License or Identification Card with owners’ Postal ZIP Code and, in the case of owners of retail or personal service businesses, a valid business license. In all cases, all occupants of vehicles entering the affected areas of the City under a Tier 1 or 2 placard must also have government issued personal identification and, for approved business employees, identification issued by the same employer identified on the placard.

What does the R on some Tier 1 and 2 placards mean?

The letter “R” indicates that the placard holder because of the nature of the business is authorized to move between their business locations in the six participating Parishes that make up the greater New Orleans metropolitan area.

Okay, how do I apply for a re-entry placard?

Placards cannot be obtained during this emergency. For future reference, go to the City of New Orleans’ official website at www.cityofno.com and follow the link to the Post Disaster Re-entry Application.

Create an account and select the appropriate category that fits: Government, Volunteer, or Business. Enter the requested information and submit. Businesses must provide the number from a current Occupational License issued by the City in order to complete the on-line application.

I’m having problems getting the application to accept my Occupational License Number what do I do?

Contact the City’s Department of Revenue at 658-1600 or 658-1666 for assistance. They can verify your current license status or help you to resolve any problems with your licenses. For questions about the business placard process, contact the Economic Development Office at 658- 4200

What happens next?

Applications for all Tier 1 placards will be reviewed by the Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety prior to approval. Applications for Tier 2 will be reviewed by the Office of Economic Development. Placards for certain businesses may receive automatic approval if the number of placards requested is equal to or less than the number of placards authorized for that business. If an applicant believes the number authorized is not sufficient to meet their needs, they may appeal using the built in appeal process. The justification for other Tiers or additional placards submitted in the appeal will be reviewed and a decision made. When the application is complete, the software will generate an emailed confirmation with the approval number and the number of placards authorized to be issued to the applicant.

How do I get my placards?

Call 504-658-8700 with your HSRE Number to make an appointment to pick up your placards.

Do I have to reapply for re-entry placards each hurricane season?

No, the initial placards will remain valid through December 31st 2008. After that you will be asked to verify your information on line and a renewal sticker will be either delivered or mailed to you.