Ida’s impact: Latest supply chain updates

1:42 p.m. ET: Port of Mobile update

Terminal gates at the Port of Mobile, in Alabama, are closed Monday with operations expected to resume Tuesday. Maersk Line reported no impact to its vessels or cargo.

1:05 p.m. ET: Widespread road closures in southeastern Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development continues to report widespread road closures across southeastern Louisiana due to Ida’s flooding and debris. This includes portions of Interstate 10, as well as many state and local roads. Closures on major U.S. highways are impacting southern Mississippi and Alabama.

11:54 a.m. ET: Southeastern Freight Lines update

Southeastern Freight Lines announced that the following service centers are embargoed: New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette, all in Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; and Orange, Texas.

11:45 a.m. ET: Port of New Orleans closed

Port of New Orleans crews are assessing Hurricane Ida impacts. Initial reports indicate no major damage to the facilities. The port is coordinating with navigation partners as well as local and state officials in order to resume operation safely and as quickly as possible.

For now, the Port Administration Building and LIT Community Connection Office  the New Orleans Terminal and Ports America for containerized operations and the Empire, Coastal Cargo, Gulf Stream Marine and Ports America for breakbulk operations are all closed on Monday.

10:22 a.m. ET: Kansas City Southern suspends operations, interchanges

KCS suspended mainline operations and interchanges from New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as Gulfport/Hattiesburg, Mississippi, because of excessive rain and wind caused by Hurricane Ida. Once KCS reopens its lines in these areas, it will send out another update.

The railroad said it is continuing to monitor the storm’s projected path and potential impact on the rest of KCS’ network. “Until the water has receded sufficiently, maintenance cannot yet begin. Crews are on location and will begin making the necessary assessments and repairs once the all clear has been received,” KCS said.

Meanwhile, Norfolk Southern said Sunday that its New Orleans intermodal facility would be closed Monday. The facility is expected to resume normal operations on Tuesday, and NS will provide updates as conditions change. “Customers with shipments arriving or departing from the New Orleans facility should expect delays of at least 24 hours”, NS

8 a.m. ET: Expect capacity to tighten across the nation

The damage from a Category 4 hurricane could bring widespread destruction from winds, flooding and tornadoes, which will tighten capacity all across the nation from relief efforts on both the state and federal levels. Companies large and small will be hauling water, ice, food, medical supplies, generators, wood, roofing materials, MREs, cots, etc. into the areas in and around the New Orleans market. Thousands of loads will be picked up out of the FEMA warehouses in the Dallas and Atlanta markets, and supplies from military bases across the South and East Coast.