Over the past weekend, Hurricane Ida made a direct impact on New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as several other cities in Louisiana. The city was hit by strong winds and flash flooding, with Governor John Bel Edwards describing it as one of the most intense storms to hit the area in the past 160 years. Apart from causing damage to buildings and roads, the local power grid managed by Entergy New Orleans sustained significant damage, leading to a widespread power outage throughout the entire city.
At present, emergency backup generators are the only power sources still operational, maintaining the city’s storm drainage system. The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans is also using generators to ensure the continuity of the city’s water supply. They are advising residents to use water sparingly to prevent sewer backups.
The heavy rainfall has caused levees to crack and overflow, resulting in flooding. Rescue teams in Jean Lafitte are on a mission to locate around 200 individuals who are believed to be stranded due to the tidal surge.
Louisiana resident Trevon Gauno captured footage of the intense rain and wind entering his home after Hurricane Ida ripped off his roof on Sunday.
In an Instagram post, Gauno mentioned that he was in his room when his roof was torn away but managed to find refuge at a relative’s house nearby. pic.twitter.com/4ZswOK3qNt
— NPR (@NPR) August 30, 2021
Mayor Tim Kerner Jr. of Jean Lafitte expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We are working to rescue those in the most immediate danger. This is an extremely hazardous situation, with unprecedented water levels. Our community has suffered substantial losses, but now the focus is solely on saving lives.”
He emphasized, “People’s lives are currently at risk. Our priority is to evacuate them as quickly as possible. Once the weather subsides, we will dispatch a rescue team to assist them.”
As of the latest update, Hurricane Ida has been downgraded to a tropical storm, but a warning remains in effect.
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