Tropical Storm Arthur Damage and Recovery: June 2026

The Impact

On the evening of June 17, 2026, Tropical Storm Arthur made landfall in the New Orleans area, bringing significant rainfall and sustained high winds. A confirmed EF1 tornado cut directly through the Longue Vue gardens in the early morning of June 18.

Damage to the National Historic Landmark gardens included the loss of five mature and 15 young trees; 20 to 40 trees with lost branches and/or significant loss of foliage; 200+ shrubs and plants lost; 14 large outdoor pots broken; major damage to fencing, fountains, and one set of historic shutters; and 275 cubic yards of widespread storm detritus. The most significant damage was to our one-acre Wild Garden, where several large trees and branches crashed through pathways, plant beds, and seating.

The main historic house was spared structural damage, but the HVAC system was damaged. As humidity levels in the house fluctuate, our decorative art and archival collections are at risk.

Site Conditions and Progress
Updated August 17, 2026

Thank you so much for your support during Longue Vue’s time of need. We’ve been overwhelmed by the love from our community. Thanks to you, cleanup is nearly complete and we are on our way to restoration.

Emergency contributions have already helped us:

• Meet two challenge matches of $10,000
• Remove nine trees that were snapped, uprooted, or split in the storm, and rescue dozens of additional trees through pruning and other stabilization
• Purchase three industrial dehumidifiers to stabilize the interiors of the historic house and protect our decorative arts collection
• Maintain continual dumpster rentals for debris removal
• Remove 275 cubic yards of storm debris
• Document and evaluate damage to pathways, garden furniture, and structures

The gardens are now completely open but still have more debris than usual falling from the trees (as hangers die and fall) and more weeds/overgrowth than usual due as staff struggle to keep up with the unexpected workload. Assessment of our beloved trees and the impact of fallen branches is ongoing.

HVAC status: Three industrial dehumidifiers were purchased to mitigate damage in the main house interiors. Currently, the house is more humid than usual but is stable. All four air handlers are running, and all areas of the house are climatized. One of two chillers took a terminal blow under the storm’s power surges and the stress of extra debris in the system; until a replacement chiller can be procured, the humidifiers are running continuously.

Additional structures with damage awaiting repair include Palmetto Drive fencing, Spanish Court fountains, and numerous shutters that were broken (in the Loggia and house colonnades). We are monitoring potential roof damage to the Main House and surrounding buildings.

Through it all, programs have continued, including our sold-out summer camp, daily admission and house tours (portions of the gardens were taped off at first, and house tours were paused briefly), photography sessions, and even scheduled seasonal celebrations. Our community has been instrumental in the recovery, and we are so grateful for the outpouring of love through volunteer hours and donations. To date, more than 60 individuals have contributed gifts totaling $83,758 of an anticipated $200,000+ need.

Now that most major cleanup is complete, our efforts have turned to restoring our gardens. Our archives are essential as we adapt to our changed canopy and make replating decisions our eight-acre estate: Recent investments in the archives are paying dividends, as we are able to refer to historic plans and other records efficiently. We are striving to finish planning and preparing all garden restoration tasks now, so we can activate the plantings themselves later this year, when temperatures cool. By early 2027, we expect to have the gardens cleaned, stabilized, and replanted in time for the spring season; assessment of moisture-related damage to our main house interiors and collections is ongoing.

As we look to the next phase of recovery and restoration, your continued partnership is deeply appreciated.