More than 1 million homes and businesses were without power Monday across a swath of Louisiana and Mississippi as Ida, downgraded from a furious Category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm, still pounded the region with heavy rains and storm surge. Ida, which roared onto the Gulf Coast near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, on Sunday with 150-mph winds, knocked out power to the entire city of New Orleans. On Monday morning, the storm was centered over southwestern Mississippi.
Levees failed or were overtopped along some rivers and bayous south of New Orleans, threatening hundreds of homes. Roofs were torn off some buildings by the powerful winds, which had decreased to about 45 mph, but tropical storm-force winds extended 150 miles. People posted their addresses and locations on social media to direct rescue teams to their attics or rooftops.
The storm was inching north at eight mph, the slow roll driving up rainfall totals along Ida’s path. “Dangerous storm surge, damaging winds, and flash flooding continue,” the National Weather Service warned. At least one death in Louisiana as New Orleans loses power; Biden approves major disaster declaration.
business owners of Terrebonne Parish in this difficult time,” Soignet said. First responders have not yet been able to reach certain parts of the parish, he said. “If you have evacuated, please don’t try to return yet, and if you are in the parish, Shelter in place.” – Keith Magill, The Courier.Ida was so powerful it reversed the flow of the Mississippi River
A U.S. Geological Survey gauge at Belle Chasse, south of New Orleans, detected the Mississippi’s flow moving backward around midday Sunday because Ida whipped up the amount of water. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Ricky Boyette confirmed engineers saw a “negative flow” on the Mississippi River due to storm surge.
Although rare, the river changing course is not unprecedented during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Isaac in 2012. “I remember, offhand, that there was some flow reversal of the Mississippi River during Hurricane Katrina, but it is extremely uncommon,” Scott Perrien, a USGS hydrologist, told CNN. – Ryan Miller
area were out of service. The company said it had provided backup generation to the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, but some homes could be without power for weeks.This is a hazardous situation. I’ve never seen so much water in my life. I believe we’ve lost our school and everything … People’s lives are at stake now. Kerner said the water swept over a 7.5-foot-high floodwall protecting the town, leaving some people at the mercy of the rushing water. When the weather breaks, “We are going to send an army to them,” he said.The first death was reported in Louisiana.
The first death was reported in Louisiana.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said deputies received a report Saturday night of a resident injured from a fallen tree in Prairieville. The office said the deputy arrived on the scene and confirmed that the victim had been killed on social media posts. More than 250 roads in the parish were closed because of downed trees or power lines, and the office urged everyone to stay home.
Ida could drop 24 inches of rain in some areas.
By Tuesday morning, the weather service said that Ida could bring total rainfall accumulations of 10 to 18 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 24 inches. Heavy rain combined with storm surge has resulted in catastrophic impacts along the southeast coast of Louisiana, with life-threatening flash flooding and “significant” river flooding continuing farther inland.
