Hurricane Ida

LETA

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Image: Megan McArthur/ISS

The tropical cyclone made landfall in the State of Louisiana and is continuing to rip a path of devastation as it moves further inland. The Gulf region is completely flooded and the infrastructure is collapsing as sustained winds of 150 mph continue to batter more than 723,000 residences in the state. Reports coming in from New Orleans indicate that the whole city is without electric power after a catastrophic statewide toppling of transmission lines.

Yesterday, President Biden declared a state of emergency for Louisiana and ordered FEMA to assist local and state governments in the region after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards petitioned the White House to classify his state as a major disaster area.

This major disaster declaration will help Louisiana better respond to this crisis and protect the health and safety of our people. President Biden and FEMA have worked with us on the response in the days leading up to the storm making landfall. It is important that we, once again, roll up our sleeves and continue a coordinated response and recovery. I am confident that working with our federal and local partners we can get the job done and overcome the latest challenge to the state. - Gov. John Bel Edwards

Ida is currently following a northwest trajectory at 10 mph and was downgraded to a dangerous category 3 hurricane. The forecast predicts a gradual weakening of the storm as it passes over portions of western Mississippi on Monday and move across the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday.