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Residents across New Orleans filled sandbags and secured their properties Monday as Tropical Storm Bertha approached the Gulf Coast, threatening another round of flooding rainfall and gusty winds.
The preparations come just weeks after Tropical Storm Arthur brought flooding and tornadoes to parts of the region.
"It had a lot of people's cars flooded and underwater," New Orleans resident Bree Anderson told AccuWeather. "Mine wasn't, but it's sad that has to happen with just a little tropical storm."
People shoveled sand and filled bags under blazing sunshine and high humidity Monday. AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures soared to 111 degrees as residents worked to protect homes, businesses and places of worship.
| New Orleans residents fill sandbags ahead of Tropical Storm Bertha's arrival on July 20, 2026. (Image: Bill Wadell/AccuWeather) |
"Being born and raised here, you know you have to be prepared," resident Lawrence Williams said.
Williams said he was collecting sandbags for several properties.
"I'm getting sandbags for the church, I'm getting sandbags for my mom's house and also for my house," he said.
City officials said nearly all of New Orleans' major drainage pumps were online and ready to handle the expected rainfall. However, officials continued to urge residents in flood-prone neighborhoods to take precautions before conditions deteriorated.
"Take no chance," resident Walter Tardy said.
Tardy said sandbags helped prevent floodwater from seeping through his front door when Arthur affected the region. He placed the bags on top of a tarp and stacked them around the entrance to his home.
"I put it around the perimeter of the door to make sure the water didn't go in," Tardy said. "And it worked. It worked for me."
AccuWeather Correspondent Bill Wadell reported from New Orleans that officials were urging residents to have sandbags ready, particularly in areas that regularly experience flooding.
People were also advised to avoid parking vehicles in low-lying locations and to secure outdoor furniture, decorations and other loose objects before gusty winds arrived.
Residents should continue monitoring AccuWeather forecasts and local emergency guidance as Bertha approaches the Gulf Coast.
