Louisiana braces for Hurricane Ida 16 years after ‘Katrina’ | Abroad

The city of New Orleans and several places in the area are asking residents to flee and prepare for the severe weather. Local hospitals are sending patients home and getting ready to go into lockdown. Local experts believe the hurricane could cause more than $20 billion in damage if it follows its predicted route.

Current forecasts say Ida will become a Category 3 hurricane, the same category that Katrina had when it hit New Orleans. This hurricane caused $120 billion in damage.

State of emergency

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in the state on Thursday, when it was not yet clear that Ida was going to become a hurricane. Now he has filed a petition with President Joe Biden for a so-called federal emergency. If that is granted, Louisiana can count on emergency aid from the national government.

Not only the state of Louisiana is getting ready for the storm. On Wednesday, the storm will reach the state of Tennessee, which was already hit by heavy rain a week ago. Twenty people were killed in the flooding caused by this. Now the state may again face heavy rain from Ida.

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