HURRICANE Ida slammed into Louisiana on Sunday, killing at least one man and knocking power out in all of New Orleans.
A 60-year-old man was confirmed to be the first casualty of the devastating storm after deputies said he was killed by a downed tree on Sunday.
The massive storm plowed ashore as an extremely powerful Category 4 storm exactly 16 years to the day after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.
On Sunday, Ida’s winds reached a strength of 150mph, ranking tied for the fifth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the mainland United States.
Ida gradually downgraded in strength as it passed over New Orleans, becoming a Category 1 storm just after midnight.
The wild winds meant that more than one million were hit by power outages in Louisiana.
The Mississippi River rose by nearly seven feet due to the storm surge and the strong winds actually caused the water to flow in the opposite direction.
Dozens were reported to be trapped after rainfall and storm surge from Hurricane Ida caused several levees to overtop.
President Joe Biden warned those in the path of the storm to “please follow the instructions of local officials during this dangerous time”.
“As soon as Hurricane Ida passes, we will put this country’s full might behind your rescue and recovery,” he said.
Read our Tropical Storm Ida live blog for the latest news and updates…
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HIGHEST RECORDED WIND GUSTS FROM IDA
As of 7pm Sunday, Bill Karins reported the strongest recorded wind gusts from Hurricane Ida to be 153mph in Port Fourchon and 146mph in Grande Isle.
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BIDEN JOINED FEMA ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
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HURRICANE WIND SCALE
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FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS IN PARTS OF LOUISIANA
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BOATING CONDITIONS ‘DANGEROUS THROUGH TOMORROW’
NWS Tallahassee warned that beaches and boating conditions “will remain dangerous through tomorrow as wave heights decrease.”
Additionally, dangerous rip currents are expected through Tuesday.
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HURRICANE IDA KNOCKS OUT POWER TO VENTILATORS
A hospital in Louisiana experienced a partial generator outage on Sunday as Hurricane Ida slammed the region, knocking out power to ventilators.
Staff at the Thibodaux Regional Hospital System in Lafourche Parish had to perform ventilation on patients by hand, manually pumping in the air, while they transferred them to floors with power.
Fortunately, generators in other parts of the hospital were still working.
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PRESIDENT BIDEN’S MESSAGE TO ‘PEOPLE OF THE GULF COAST’
Biden tweeted on Sunday afternoon: “To the people of the Gulf Coast:
“Please follow the instructions of local officials during this dangerous time.
“As soon as Hurricane Ida passes, we will put this country’s full might behind your rescue and recovery.”
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FIRST DEATH REPORTED FROM HURRICANE IDA
Deputies in Ascension Parish have confirmed the first death related to Hurricane Ida in Louisiana.
The sheriff’s office received reports of someone injured from a fallen tree around 8.30pm on Sunday.
When they arrived on the scene, they confirmed that one person had died.
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‘HORRIBLE FLOODING’ IN LAPLACE, LOUISIANA
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PIERS MORGAN CALLS IDA ‘ONE OF AMERICA’S BIGGEST EVER HURRICANES’
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GOV REQUESTS PRESIDENTIAL MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION
Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration from President Joe Biden on Sunday “due to the severe impact of HurricaneIda.”
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‘ALL OF NEW ORLEANS WITHOUT POWER’
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‘STILL A MAJOR HURRICANE’
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‘SIMPLY TERRIFYING’ FOOTAGE OF HURRICANE IDA
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SECTION OF ROOF BLEW OFF IN NEW ORLEANS’ FRENCH QUARTER
Part of a roof is spotted on the ground in New OrleansCredit: AFP
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MASSIVE ROOF HIT POWER POLE
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RESIDENTS URGED TO ‘SEEK HIGHER GROUND’
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‘CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION DAMAGE’
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HIGH WATERS IN AREAS OUTSIDE OF LEVEE PROTECTION SYSTEM
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‘APPROXIMATELY 500 PEOPLE DID NOT EVACUATE’
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HOSPITAL ROOF BLEW OFF AMID STRONG WINDS
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IDA TO REMAIN HURRICANE OVERNIGHT
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IDA WEAKENS TO CATEGORY 3 STORM
On Sunday, Ida’s winds reached a strength of 150mph, ranking tied for the fifth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the mainland United States.
The storm first made landfall as a Category 4 storm but dropped hours later to a Category 3 storm, with max wind strength of 125mph as it neared New Orleans.
The storm blew off roofs and reversed the flow of the Mississippi River as it made its way toward New Orleans, AP News reported.
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‘SIGNIFICANT THREAT FOR FLASH FLOODING’
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‘NATURAL DISASTER IN MIDST OF PANDEMIC’
As South Louisiana’s hospitals are filled with covid patients, Jennifer Avegno, the top health official for New Orleans, said: “Once again we find ourselves dealing with a natural disaster in the midst of a pandemic.”
Source: thesun
