With more than 2,000 miles of energy lines down in Louisiana due to Hurricane Ida’s extreme weather event, New Orleans faces three weeks without electricity.
Officials from Entergy Louisiana said on Monday that it may take days for utility crews to determine the extent of damage done to New Orleans’ power grid, with some areas not receiving electricity again until late September.
The company wrote, “We have a lot of rebuilding ahead of us. We’ll be better prepared to give restoration estimates once assessments are done.”
The company announced that, by 7 a.m., more than 888,000 people in Louisiana were without power due to Hurricane Ida’s snapping of cables and damaging buildings along with uprooting trees as well as spreading debris throughout the state.
On Monday morning, 2,000 miles of transmission lines were down along with more than 200 substations and 207 transmission lines.
Footage from a drone captured on Monday shows locals looting an ATM and taking drinks in New Orleans, fueling fears of spiraling crime during the prolonged darkness.
New Orleans’ Sewer and Water Board reported that most, if not all of its 84 sewage pumping stations were without power. It was relying on generators to keep pumps working in order to drain the stormwater out of the city as well as bring drinking water in.
Bloomberg reports that New Orleans may not have power or air conditioning for over three weeks. The city’s mayor LaToya Cantrell is urging people and businesses to “share the power you have.”
The mayor said, ‘While the power is dependent on generators, I’m calling on all of our people and businesses that have the capacity in the city to be good neighbors – share the power you have, open your businesses with the people to recharge their devices.’
President Joe Biden announced on Monday that the federal government has sent two hundred generators to assist one million people who remain without power in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Ida.
The president added that he has ordered the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security to make available any satellite imagery they have so as to assess Ida’s damage on infrastructure. He also said that he asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for authorization in order to use drones when assessing Ida’s damages.
Additionally, he said that they are activating cooperative cellphone access so if one carrier loses service, their customers can switch to another for temporary coverage. This came after AT&T announced its network had gone down for 40% of Louisiana residents and 1 million people were without power which made it difficult for those affected by the disaster to make emergency calls or work from home.
Biden told governors and mayors in the storm-ravaged areas, “We’re here to stand with you and the people of the Gulf as long it takes for you to recover. We’re providing any help that you may need.”
Biden said, “Folks get knocked down. We’re there to help you back up on your feet.” He then told Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards directly: “If there’s anything else you need, you know just call, just holler.
During a conference call Monday afternoon, President Biden reassured Louisiana and Mississippi mayors and governors that they will have the assistance they need while Hurricane Ida makes its way north.
He said the Hurricane Ida toll – which currently stands at one person died so far, may rise as people realize their losses and damages.
On a call with Governors of states affected by the extreme weather event on Monday, President Biden warned that he expected the number of people killed as a result of Ida to rise considerably.
‘We already know there’s been at least one confirmed death, and a number – that number is likely to grow,’ Biden said. And I’ve got – we’ve got a million people in Louisiana without power.
Biden agreed with the words of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards warns more bad news is to come as search and rescue efforts continue following Sunday’s devastating Category 4 hurricane.
“I don’t want to mislead anyone,” he said. “Robust search and rescue are happening right now, and I fully expect that the death count will go up considerably throughout the day.”
The President’s conference call later sparked controversy after he used the word ‘boy’ to describe his senior adviser Cedric Richmond, who is black.
The president faced accusations of casual racism when he said, “I’m here with my senior adviser and boy who knows Louisiana very, very well, Cedric Richmond.”
He made his remarks after Hurricane Ida left 1.043 million people without power in Louisiana and another 115,000 in the same situation in Mississippi as it dropped torrential rain on the area flooding much of New Orleans before being downgraded to a tropical storm Monday.
A victim has been confirmed dead after a tree fell on his home in Prairieville, Louisiana. The 60-year-old man was killed and he is yet to be named.
On Monday, the effects of Ida began to become evident. The storm destroyed a New Orleans tailor shop where jazz great Louis Armstrong once lived and many other buildings in the city as well.
Ida’s rampage reduced Karnofsky Tailor Shop and Residence, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places to a pile of bricks and rubble.
In 1913, Armstrong started working for the Karnofskys in their tailor shop. He would toot a small tin horn and eat meals with them. Eventually, they gave him money so he could go to his first concert!
According to John McCusker, a retired journalist who supported efforts to get the store historically landmarked, Louis said it was the Karnofskys that instilled the love of singing in his heart.
The Karnofsys’ son, Morris opened the first jazz record store in town and Armstrong visited his musician buddies at the store on many of his return trips to New Orleans.
Yet another apartment building in Kenner, Louisiana burned overnight after the storm struck it.
A man named Dartanian Stovall was pictured distraught outside his home in New Orleans, Louisiana after it had been destroyed by the storm. At that time he was renovating it.
The chimney was the first to fall, and then everything else followed.
Despite the terrifying experience, Stovall considers himself fortunate to be alive. “At least I’m alive,” he says with his hands clasped on top of his head as he surveys what remains of his home after Monday’s disaster.
The mayor of Jefferson Parish, Cynthia Lee Cheng, also outlined the horror faced by some of her neighbors who are trapped in their attics as they lose everything to Hurricane Ida.
‘This is an area if you want to think of it like swampland, there are alligators out there’ she said.
Search and rescue teams are currently scouring flooded areas of Jefferson County, LA with boats. The state has also activated 5,000 National Guard members to help the effort.
The US Army is preparing 195 high-water vehicles and 73 rescue boats to aid in search missions across south Louisiana. The National Guard will support the mission with 34 helicopters if needed, as well.
“We have one confirmed death but I don’t want to mislead anyone. Robust search and rescue is happening right now and I fully expect that death count will go up considerably throughout the day,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says on Hurricane Ida damage. pic.twitter.com/O5wpB6eScT
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 30, 2021
As the storm passed by around dawn, people in New Orleans used flashlights to search for damage as they struggled without refrigeration and air conditioning due to losing power during Sunday’s sunset.
The Big Easy faces a blackout as power supplier Entergy confirms that 144,000 homes are without electricity. 195,000 more face blackouts in nearby Jefferson Parish while 80,000 people remain powerless to their lights in St Tammany Parish.
Louisianans who work from home were not happy about the power outages, and some of them got even more bad news by Monday. AT&T reported that their cellphone and internet services suffered because 40% of its network was down due to Ida’s damage
The Louisiana National Guard began to search and rescue operations at around 3 a.m., going door to door in order to check on the residents of New Orleans, many of whom remained stuck on their second-floor or attics as the floodwaters continued to rise.
The US Coast Guard also helped evacuate seven patients from a southern Louisiana hospital. The Governor of Louisiana, John Bel Edwards announced this on Monday afternoon.
The governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam shared in a tweet that the state has deployed 35 members of Virginia Task Force 2 to help with relief. He also mentioned how Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Monday they were sending 132 firefighters and 30 fire engines as well as 14 crew members and one helicopter to Louisiana.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed his pride in sending emergency personnel and resources to Louisiana, stating “The State of Texas is proud to support our neighbors in Louisiana by sending emergency resources and personnel.”
‘We will never forget the kindness, generosity, and support offered by the people of Louisiana during Hurricane Harvey four years ago, and we are eager to support them in their own time of need.’
The State Police noted that many people will not be able to get help for a while since communication is limited in certain areas. They also said it’s hard to tell how much damage there really was because the roads have yet been cleared and search-and-rescue workers can’t reach all places at once.
They wrote: ‘A large portion of travel routes are blocked by down trees and power lines,’ ‘In addition, there is standing water in some areas, which can deteriorate roads and sweep vehicles away. Debris is also scattered throughout the area, which can make navigating our roadways very difficult.’
They asked residents to refrain from traveling until the dangerous conditions are resolved, as it is these dangers that can create additional emergencies.
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has had to cancel hundreds of flights, and people with scheduled flights are asked to make arrangements with their airlines. WDSU reported that there were 226 canceled on Sunday and 40 canceled on Saturday; 173 more have been called off for Monday as the airport continues to face systematic issues.
A total of 30 people remained in the airport terminal at 10 a.m., Monday morning, and have been relocated to baggage claim as the air conditioning was down throughout the entire facility along with communications systems and restrooms were compromised. The generator is currently operating within emergency capacity but without electricity; staff members will continue monitoring their safety while located in this area until further notice.
The Federal Aviation Administration is in communication with officials to discuss its timeline for assessments on navigational aids and air traffic control tower functionality.
Category 5 Hurricane Ida is the fifth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the US mainland. The storm raged at 150mph winds on Sunday and picked up slightly less than 157mph, according to Associated Press reports. Within 20 hours of existing, Louisiana saw a maximum of 17 inches in rainfall west from New Orleans; it’s predicted that this could rise 24 inches as rain continues.
The tropical storm, Ida is set to move across Mississippi – sparking flood warnings for that state through Tuesday. The warning has also been discontinued in the early hours of Tuesday morning for Louisiana. Ida will cross into Tennessee and Alabama with locals warned about the possibility of flash floods caused by heavy rain while winds are expected at 60mph as well.
The storm is expected to weaken by Thursday, but it may still cause problems for the area with up to three inches of water. People in New England are worried that this sudden change could lead to flash flooding from already soaked soil after last week’s Tropical Storm Henri.
The massive power outage in New Orleans was caused by the collapse of a transmission tower. The energy suppliers warned that it could be weeks before life returns to normal for residents, and an assessment needs to be carried out before restoring services.
Entergy confirmed the only power in New Orleans was coming from generators, and due to “catastrophic transmission damage” this would be insufficient. The city relies on Entergy for backup power for the pumps of levees but now there are concerns locals might attempt to use these generators indoors where they could poison themselves by emitting dangerous carbon monoxide.
Governor Bel Edwards announced that hospitals, which have been inundated with COVID patients and are suffering from a lack of power, will be given priority in restoring services.
Entergy spokesman Brandon Scardigli said in a statement to Nola.com that the Category Four storm caused all eight transmission lines into New Orleans to go down, and created a load imbalance that knocked all power generation into the region offline.
The power company is currently working to assess the damage and restore electricity. However, locals have warned that this process may take weeks due to the scale of destruction caused by the hurricane.
Officials in Jefferson Parish stated that a transmission tower providing electricity for New Orleans and the East bank of the parish has collapsed into the river. According to Emergency Management Director, cables hanging across the Mississippi River are now buried underwater.
Entergy officials tweeted on Monday that it will likely take days to determine the extent of damage to their power grid and far longer still before electrical transmission in the region is restored.
Joe Giarrusso, a New Orleans city councilman said that power companies’ estimates of electricity restoration in the coming days is optimistic. He also believes this optimism should be balanced with preparedness for worst-case scenarios like what happened to Lake Charles during Hurricane Laura.
He added: ‘One of the things that we’re going to have to think, and I’m sure the city is working on right now, is for people who may not have the means – how could we get them to where they need, so they are safe’ as people may run out of food and water in the coming days.
Despite having been upgraded since Hurricane Katrina, the levees – which protect New Orleans from floods and storm surge – again failed or were overtopped. As a result, houses flooded with water turning parts of the city into what looks like a brown ocean.
The phenomenon of saturated soil and swampy ground absorbing nearly no rainwater meant that Ida barely lost power after it hit the New Orleans shoreline on Sunday afternoon. Furthermore, scientists said relatively warm groundwater also helped ramp up Ida’s power even more!]
According to Army Corps of Engineers Spokesman Ricky Boyette, The strength of Ida was so ferocious that it pushed the water from the Gulf of Mississippi back into the river, causing negative flow – a phenomenon in which water flows backward.
A flash flood emergency for Alliance continued Monday morning due to levee failure near Highway 23. The National Weather Service warned these are extremely dangerous and life-threatening situations, ‘Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.’
Individuals requiring emergency assistance were urged to go to the nearest fire station or approach a nearby officer. In addition, some people also took to social media asking for help and promising rescue efforts would begin in the early morning hours of Monday as it moved into Mississippi.
Louisiana Governor Edwards said that rescue crews would not be able to immediately help those who were stranded during a Sunday news conference, and warned the state could see weeks of recovery. “Many, many people are going to be tested in ways that we can only imagine today,” he added.”There is always light after darkness,” He promised though; We’re going get through this situation”
As of Monday morning, 900 searches and rescue personnel from 16 different states aided in the efforts to find survivors. Some residents continued sheltering on their second floors or attics for safety as they began looking around at what was still standing.
Matthew Marchetti, spokesperson for Crowdsource Rescue, a Houston-based nonprofit which has been coordinating rescue efforts in Louisiana since the weekend’s storm began said that so far they have rescued about 150 out of the 1,000 reports it received in Louisiana. The group currently has three teams operating near LaPlace and are en route to Lafitte where there is still major flooding however it will be difficult as many roads remain impassable.
He said: Lafitte is a bit of a technical challenge,’, calling it a ‘long boat ride because of road issues.’
Monday morning, crews assessed the damage from the storm.
Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee said: ‘Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario seems to have happened,’ describing that some houses flooded with water that’s ‘beyond chest high. It’s up to the top of the roof.’
The power outages and poor weather conditions made it tough for teams to work overnight.
Lee explained to CNN: ‘This is an area that has a lot of swampland, alligators, very dangerous conditions. They had to wait for the sun to come up this morning. They had a strategy. We have people out there ready to clear roads. We’re going to have boats, high-water vehicles. Our first responders are ready to go. They just needed the daylight to be able to do their best work.’‘
A mandatory curfew has been called from 6 a.m Monday through Tuesday morning at least, in order to protect residents’ safety and allow emergency responders easy access on roads that may be covered in floodwater. All residents are urged not to go out during this time.
Nearly 20 other cities and parishes enforced curfews on Monday.
On Sunday, Hurricane Ida slammed into Grand Isle and blew off the roofs of buildings around Port Fourchon as it made landfall early in Louisiana’s southern wetlands. The hurricane then churned its way over New Orleans’ petrochemical corridor that threatens more than 2 million people living near Baton Rouge on the 16th anniversary of Katrina in August 2005.
When the storm approached, many people did not have enough money or resources to flee. The aftermath of the storms destroyed buildings and left debris in its path.
Petty Officer Gabriel Wisdom told the Associated Press that The US Coast Guard office in the region received more than a dozen reports of breakaway barges.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality works with more than 1,500 oil refineries and chemical plants to respond to any reported pollution leaks or petroleum spills. Greg Langley said the department will do everything they can in these situations.”
The Monday after Hurricane Ida, LaFourche Parish officials reported that re-entry into the area would be delayed for up to a week. The parish’s roads were impassable and weren’t expected to clear in time for residents of Lafourche County to return home soon.
Officials said first responders will be working around the clock to clear roads for residents returning from evacuation, as a curfew is still in effect.
Residents who are currently living in the area have been advised to boil their water until further notice. This is due to many of them not having access to any form of running water, officials said.
In Sidell, Louisiana, Mayor Greg Comer said that local officials had to deploy boats on Monday in order to conduct water rescues because there was flooding ‘in every neighborhood.’‘
he explained: ‘In about a three-hour period, we had probably a five to six-foot rise in the bayou and the lake estuary system that pushed water into a number of people’s homes on the south side of our community.’
‘We had to deploy boats at 4:00 this morning and do water rescues,’ he added to CNN, noting they had already rescued 15 people off their roofs in these water rescues.
People even waded into waist-deep water to flag down police officers, Comer said, ‘and we were able to get in there and find these folks, but it has been a pretty long morning for our first responders, our police officers, and some of our firemen.’
The Mayor is hoping it will only take three to five days for power to be restored. This would’ve been much faster than after Hurricane Katrina which took two weeks. But the worst is yet to come, he fears.
He added, ‘As the storm goes north and the winds shift out of a southeasterly direction to a southwesterly direction, it’ll start taking and pushing all the water that’s in [Lake Pontchartrain] and it begins to stack up on our side of the lake, and we’ll see another rise in water, we think, this afternoon.’
As of Monday morning, the storm’s wind speed was 60 mph. The forecast predicts that it will drastically weaken as it rains down on Mississippi. Additionally, the system is centered 65 miles south-southwest from Jackson at 8 mph with sustained winds of 45mph
The swirling tropical weather pattern known as Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall early Tuesday in Alabama and has been drenching parts of the Gulf Coast region for days before reaching land. It began heading northward — along an old track toward Chicago that may have residents reminiscing about another deadly flood event several years ago.
Strong winds are expected to blow throughout the day, which could knock out power for even more residents.
A tornado risk will also continue to the east of the center of circulation, according to FOX News, and heavy rain is going to be the biggest concern as the remnants move into the Mid-South, Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast in the coming days.
Three to six inches of rain is expected in New England over the course of Ida’s path, where it will fall on the already saturated ground from Tropical Storm Henri.
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