At least four dead, more than a million people without electricity: Hurricane “Ida” devastated parts of the US coast. Hundreds of people have now been rescued from the floodplain.
Hurricane “Ida” hit the coasts of Louisiana with enormous force on Sunday – exactly 16 years after the arrival of the monster storm “Katrina”. It is already clear that it has caused considerable damage in the southern US state.
It has been exactly 16 years since hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans region in the US state of Louisiana. Now hurricane “Ida” has hit land there – and rages as destructively as Katrina did back then. Https://t.co/DPQD6GQyVI
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Helpers save hundreds of people from flood areas
After the passage of Hurricane Ida, aid workers rescued hundreds of people from the flooded areas in the southern US state of Louisiana. In the district of St. John the Baptist alone, almost 800 residents were brought to safety from flooded or damaged houses, said community chief Jaclyn Hotard, according to media reports on Monday evening (local time). The water in the place was about 1.5 meters high.
According to Louisiana’s Governor John Bel Edwards, dozens of boats, helicopters and special vehicles are deployed to rescue people in the disaster area. Around 5,000 soldiers of the National Guard were also assigned to clean up and rescue work. In the coming days, they should get reinforcements from other states, Edwards said.
Nightly curfew in New Orleans
Because of the aftermath of the hurricane, New Orleans has imposed a night curfew. It is valid from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The police justified this with dangers to public safety. Because of the widespread power failure, there was a risk of looting, among other things.
I have signed an Executive Order mandating a city wide curfew, effective immediately for all residents from 8pm -6am. https://t.co/IywxeUtrXN
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At least four deaths from “Ida”
According to official information, at least four people have so far been killed by “Ida” in Louisiana and Mississippi. In the Prairieville community near Baton Rouge, a person was fatally injured by a falling tree, the local sheriff’s office announced on Sunday evening (local time) on Facebook. A driver drowned in heavy rainfall, the authorities reported on Monday. In view of the destruction, however, it is feared that the number of victims will increase.
LDH sadly confirms the death of a male who drowned after his vehicle attempted to go through floodwater near I-10 and West End Blvd. in New Orleans. His age is unknown at this time pending ID of the victim.
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Apparently a freeway has been washed away in Mississippi. The lane of Highway 26 collapsed near Lucedale, several cars and a motorcycle fell into the up to nine meters deep hole on Monday evening (local time), killing two people and injuring at least ten, the police said. A few cars were stacked in the hole.
NEW VIDEO: Crews pull cars from ditch of collapsed road on Highway 26 near Lucedale. Two dead, 10 injured. This is grim, it’s heartbreaking, it’s scary. I can’t imagine being in a situation like that. Just more devastation stemming from #ida. @WKRG #mswx https://t.co/U5gm6O9Ji9
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“Ida” downgraded to a tropical storm, the situation remains dangerous
Deanne Criswell of the American Civil Protection Agency said: “I don’t think there could have been a worse way for the storm”. Because “Ida” is not just as “Extremely dangerous hurricane” Level four hit land but remained a Category 4 hurricane for hours.
Even if “Ida” has since been downgraded from hurricane to tropical storm and continues to lose power over land, the storm remains a major threat. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said dangerous tidal waves, violent winds and flash floods can continue to be expected over parts of southeast Louisiana and southern Mississippi.
The city of New Orleans is urging citizens who moved to safety elsewhere before the storm not to return yet. There was still rubble everywhere, there was no electricity and the emergency services were taking care of those who remained in the city.
Repeat: There is a complete lack of services available in #NOLA right now. DO NOT RETURN until further notice, if you have evacuated. #Ida https://t.co/fmAlqaXgVx
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Hurricane “Ida” hits land with full force
The first “attack” hit Port Fourchon southwest of New Orleans. The cyclone reached the place at around 240 kilometers per hour, as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. The Twitter video shows how “Ida” presents herself on site:
Port Fourchon #Louisiana #LouisianaStrong #HurricaneIda https://t.co/gVTMXHZDmd
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Video shows how Hurricane “Ida” caused the water level to skyrocket
The storm is said to have raged so violently around Port Fourchon that the area was initially inaccessible. Houses are also under water further inland. Local media reported that houses were destroyed, streets were flooded, and trees and electricity pylons were broken. In the town of Galliano, the storm tore off parts of the roof of a hospital. But nobody was injured.
The following before and after video on Twitter shows the town of Delacroix, southeast of New Orleans – the recordings were made every hour:
Before and after security camera footage from Fire Station #12 in Delacroix within a 1 hour time span. #idahurricane #HurricaneIda #Hurricane #Category4 https://t.co/9PL8V9KySA
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Mississippi flows backwards for three hours in the estuary
“Ida” caused a meter high storm surge on some parts of the coast. As US media reported, the force of the incoming water was so strong that the Mississippi in the south of New Orleans measured about three hours upstream – in a northerly direction instead of in a southerly direction.
Goodmorning omg the Mississippi river is flowing BACKWARDS.
My son lives in Algiers Point, where it is at its deepest — 20 feet!!
And. it. is. flowing. backwards.
#lawx #mswx #ida https://t.co/u9UgnZk03I
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Here an alligator is fighting its way through the troubled river:
Wow! That’s an #Alligator in the #Mississippi trying to keep its head above water. #hurricaneIda @CBSMiami https://t.co/6nH0BYwNqw
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All of New Orleans because of “Ida” without electricity
Only shortly after “Ida” hit the coast, the wind was still so violent that the power gradually went out not only in all of New Orleans, but also in other areas of Louisiana.
In total, more than a million customers should be without electricity. In addition, the map of the security authority NOLA from the first hours of the storm:
Widespread power outages across New Orleans. Conserve battery on your devices. Check https://t.co/8qMyEyN34Q for up-to-date maps. #Ida https://t.co/VLVkW4n9H5
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In the end, the power grid collapsed completely in the 400,000-inhabitant city of New Orleans because all eight high-voltage lines into the city of “Ida” were damaged or destroyed.
Establishing the power supply can take weeks
Thousands of workers and experts are now busy restoring the power supply. As the White House announced on Monday, restoring power could take weeks. The damage reported by the electricity suppliers was “catastrophic“As spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. The repair is a top priority for all authorities.
Warnings about “Ida”: “catastrophic”, “life-threatening”, “historical”
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) had warned of meter-high storm surges and floods all weekend. The storm will have historic proportions, it was said: “Ida” was one of the strongest storms since 1850 when it hit Louisiana.
The state and the city of New Orleans would have to deal with heavy rain, one “Life-threatening storm surge”, catastrophic gusts of wind and long-lasting power outages.
The consequence of the warnings: Because of thousands of residents fleeing the coastal areas, the highways into the interior and the neighboring states have been completely overcrowded since Saturday. Petrol was sometimes hard to come by.
“Ida” no longer meets the same New Orleans as “Katrina”
“Ida” hit Louisiana 16 years to the day after the devastating hurricane “Katrina” hit land – and is said to be even stronger. “Katrina” had caused catastrophic damage and floods in and around New Orleans. Around 1,800 people were killed at that time.
Since then, however, billions have been invested in flood protection in the region. New Orleans is now better protected from flooding.
Just terrible. And on the 16th anniversary of #Katrina. Why!? Prayers for everyone in #IDA’s path. https://t.co/g9ThymyTGj
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Hospitals already overcrowded – with corona patients
Many hospitals in the region could not be evacuated in the past few days because they are overcrowded with corona patients. There is hardly any room for patients in hospitals in neighboring states either.
We have no place to take these patients. Not in the state, not outside the state.
In order not to turn emergency shelters for evacuees into new hotspots for the spread of the coronavirus, the authorities tried to find hotel rooms for as many people as possible.
