Topline
Hurricane Ida already caused widespread flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi, and power outages that could last for weeks. The category four storm made landfall Sunday afternoon in Louisiana and moved towards New Orleans.
Sergio Hijuelo and Jesse Perez walk through the flood streets near Lake Pontchartrain, as... [+] Hurricane Ida approaches on Aug. 29 in New Orleans. ASSOCIATED PRS
The Key Facts
Ida arrived in the area at 12:55 p.m. ET Sunday. It sustained maximum winds of 150 mph and the National Hurricane Center (NHC), reported that the storm will remain a hurricane into Sunday night, even though it weakens. Local news footage and social media show flooding and downed trees in Louisiana and Mississippi. Officials also report that Grand Isle, Louisiana has six feet of floodwater in some parts. Officials said that 40 people, including first responders, remained in Grand Isle despite being given an evacuation order. They also received rescue requests from the Louisiana Governor. John Bel Edwards stated that the region has suffered severe storm surge and wind damage. Entergy, an energy provider, reported that more than 380,000 Louisiana customers were without power at 4:05 p.m. ET. This includes widespread outages in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and other areas. The hurricane is still moving inland, so they have not yet suffered the full brunt. Officials have asked residents with power to conserve water and not run dishwashers or do laundry to avoid sewage backups. As the storm continues to worsen, emergency services in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish have been forced to suspend their operations. Officials from New Orleans say that emergency medical services will resume responding once conditions improve.
What to Watch
As the storm moves inland, it is likely that the storm will get worse and have greater impacts on areas such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Bel Edwards predicted at a Sunday news conference that the storm's devastating effects would continue for at most the next 24 hours. Bel Edwards stated that a levee storm protection system which protects New Orleans is expected to keep the area safe from the storms. This would allow the region to avoid the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. Due to the potential storm's impacts (blocked roads, downed power lines, and tornadoes), a number of localities have imposed curfews over night. According to Entergy's past restoration times for storms, the power outages could last for at least a month. Entergy reported Sunday morning that customers in Idas' direct path might be without power for up to three weeks. Bel Edwards, a reporter for Entergy, reported that dozens of emergency rescue teams are ready to conduct search and rescue operations in support of storm victims. He also predicted that recovery operations would likely begin Monday morning in areas with significant damage.
Tangent
Ida could also have an impact on Louisiana's Covid-19 epidemic. Bel Edwards warned Sunday that extended power outages could cause severe damage to hospitals already crowded with Covid-19 patients, and could lead to staff shortages. Covid-19 transmission to shelters housing storm evacuees is also a concern. However, shelter managers and local officials said that there will be some areas where shelters will accept those who are not compliant with the mask-wearing policy and have tested positive for Covid-19.
Important Background
According to the Associated Press, Ida is the fifth named storm in the Atlantic hurricane season. It was also one of the most powerful storms in American history. It struck New Orleans on 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's 2005 landfall. Residents of coastal Louisiana were told to evacuate before the storm, while residents within the New Orleans levee system were only under a voluntary evacuation order. This was because the storm intensified quickly before it made landfall. Officials didn't have enough time to issue a mandatory evacuation. According to the NHC, there could be isolated rainfalls of as high as 24 inches in certain areas. However, rains are expected to fall throughout most of southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Ida is expected to travel north through parts of Louisiana and western Mississippi until Monday, before moving into Tennessee on Tuesday.
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Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Louisiana as an Extremely Dangerous Category-4 Storm (Forbes).
Fauci says that Hurricane Ida could make Louisiana's Covid-19 Outbreak much worse (Forbes).
Live coverage: Hurricane Ida is 'extremely hazardous' as it moves inland (WWL TV)
