Union Pacific Prepares for Arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac

Announcement Number: CN2012-33
Categories: General Announcements
Posted Date: August 26, 2012

 To Our Customers,

Union Pacific, along with the NS and the CSXT railroads are making preparations for the arrival of Tropical Storm Isaac. The storm could strengthen to a Category 2 hurricane prior to making landfall, currently estimated to be early Wednesday morning along the Gulf Coast near Mobile, Alabama. The City of New Orleans is expected to shut the city's flood gates by 2:00 p.m. Monday afternoon, cutting off rail access into and out of the city.

Effective immediately, Union Pacific operations personnel are working with the CSXT and Norfolk Southern to reroute traffic normally interchanged at New Orleans to the Memphis gateway. Customer shipments that are currently in the New Orleans area that cannot be interchanged prior to the shutting of the flood gates will be moved to higher ground until the storm passes.

In preparation for the arrival of Isaac, Union Pacific is currently moving equipment out of the low-lying areas and positioning materials to begin any necessary repair work as soon as the storm subsides and any damage can be assessed.

Customers with traffic moving through the New Orleans area should anticipate 24- to 48-hour delays.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

If you have any questions please contact your Union Pacific representative.