Transportation, Freight Logjams Continue in Gulf Region

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urricane Katrina’s aftermath in the Gulf Coast region has left transportation supply lines, imports and exports stalled, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

The overall damage from the storm could slow U.S. economic growth, the Post and other news outlets reported.

Less-than-truckload carrier Yellow Roadway Corp. has had 20 of its terminals affected by the storm, Chief Executive Officer Bill Zollars said, the Post reported. With major bridges down in the New Orleans and other Gulf areas, trucks have to run hours of their normal routes, he said.

In addition to roads, New Orleans is a major hub of Mississippi River barge traffic, and rail lines, as well as home to a port that offloads about 60% of U.S. grain exports, the Post said.

Exports of manufactured goods normally shipped from New Orleans may move to other southern ports such as Houston. Calls could not get through to the Port of New Orleans this week.

New Orleans warehouses also hold about 25% of U.S. raw coffee supplies, pushing prices up. Banana importers reported severe damage at Gulfport, Miss., intake facilities, the Post said. The Agriculture Department put import quotas in sugar Tuesday, concerned over tight supplies.

Rail lines including Norfolk Southern, CSX Corp., BNSF Railway and Union Pacific all have stopped freight traffic into the New Orleans region, they said earlier this week.