While southeast Louisiana is in dire need of power, fuel, and housing for displaced residents, it’s been over a year for southwest Louisiana residents who still need permanent housing after hurricanes Laura and Delta. Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s disappointing…
Cut 9 (09) “…we need.”
Senator Bill Cassidy says President Biden told him he’s committed to providing home repair dollars for Hurricane Laura and Delta victims in the next federal spending bill that needs to be approved by October 1st.

Cassidy says he also spoke with Biden about the proposed infrastructure bill, which has billions dedicated to helping mitigate the power hurdles the state is facing.
Cut 7 (12) “..from power lines.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office is launching an investigation into the evacuation of hundreds of nursing home residents from seven different facilities to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish that was not equipped to house over 800 patients. The Advocate newspaper reports the Louisiana Department of Health approved the evacuation plan but the nursing home owner Bob Dean did not execute the plan properly. Landry says he has to find out more…
cut 13 (15) “…deaths occur”

If you want to donate money towards the Hurricane Ida response or volunteer, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov…
cut 3 (11) “…through this time”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office is launching its own investigation into the deaths of several nursing home residents who were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish that was not equipped to house over 800 residents. Landry says he wants to know the facts that led to these deaths
Cut 12 (07) “…the movement”
The Advocate reports LDH approved the warehouse as an evacuation site, but a spokesperson for the state’s health agency says the plan was not executed properly.

During President Biden’s tour of Hurricane Ida’s destruction. Senator Bill Cassidy reminded the President there are still residents struggling with home repair needs in southwest Louisiana after last year’s hurricanes…
cut 6 (09) “…both”

If you want to donate money or volunteer to help in the Hurricane Ida recovery go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. Dave Brannen has more…
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed another Ida-related death bringing the storm’s death toll to 13. A 74-year-old man in New Orleans died as a result of the heat.

According to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, over a half a million customers are still without power.

President Joe Biden got a first-hand look yesterday at the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ida. The President met with storm victims in LaPlace as he walked a neighborhood that’s been severely impacted. Mr. Biden says he knows people are hurting and the federal government is here to help and has already distributed 100-million dollars directly to individuals…
cut 27 (27) “…stay at home”
In order to take advantage of this assistance, storm victims need to register with FEMA at disaster-assistance dot-gov or call 1-800-621 FEMA.

If you want to donate money or volunteer to help in the Hurricane Ida recovery go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. Dave Brannen has more…
cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

It’s the opening weekend of the college football season and thousands of Tiger fans are in Los Angeles to see the Fighting Tigers play UCLA in the historic Rose Bowl. There’s also a large group of Cajun fans in Austin, Texas to see U-L Lafayette take on Texas in a matchup of two teams ranked in the top 25.

President Biden told residents in LaPlace he knows they are hurting as he walked in a neighborhood yesterday that sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ida. The President also promised the federal government will help to get Louisiana back on its feet. He also wants to see the state build back better and the infrastructure bill waiting to be debated in the U-S House can help…
cut 10 (10) “….better way”
The President talked about having powerlines underground to avoid the wind damage from a hurricane.

Evacuees who are staying at a hotel can have their lodging expenses paid for through a program called Transitional Sheltering Assistance. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer those eligible need to register with FEMA and find their own hotel room at a participating hotel…
cut 7 (10) “….hotel room”

One of the major issues in this first week of recovery from Hurricane Ida is the lack of fuel and long lines at gas stations that have gasoline. Kevin Gallagher has more on what’s behind the shortage…
voicer  1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office has charged a 20-year-old New Orleans man with murder for fatally shooting a 36-year-old man at a gas station over an argument that broke out while they were waiting in line for gasoline . The deadly shooting occurred on Clearview Parkway in Metairie. Sheriff Joe Lopinto told WWL radio that nobody should lose a life over gasoline.

President Joe Biden told residents in a hurricane-damaged neighborhood in LaPlace that he knows they are hurting. Yesterday, the President got both an aerial and street view of the widespread damage from Hurricane Ida. During a briefing with state and local officials, Biden pledged that the federal government will stand with Louisiana as it rebuilds…
cut 9 (10) “…gets done”

FEMA has activated Transitional Sheltering Assistance for storm victims. That’s a program where the federal government pays for lodging expenses at participating hotels. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer says T-S-A eligible applicants must find and book their own hotel rooms…
cut 8 (10) “…so forth’
For more information go to disaster-assistance-dot-gov.

Entergy has provided restoration times for all of Louisiana. Lafourche Parish, Lower Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Terrebonne and much of Plaquemines Parish will not see much of their electricity return until September 29th. Entergy’s vice president of distribution operations, John Hawkins, says the damage done is enormous…
cut 13 (12) “….this storm”
Hawkins says there’s also nearly five million feet of downed wire and over 37-hundred damaged transformers.

Houma Representative Tanner Magee is amazed with the destruction from Hurricane Ida…
cut 3 (10) “…the Gulf”
A lot of cleanup will take place this Labor Day weekend.

President Biden spent much of the afternoon seeing first-hand the damage wrought by powerful Hurricane Ida.  He toured areas of southeast Louisiana battered by the storm, meeting with local and state officials leading response efforts. Biden pledges that the federal government will stand with the state to rebuild.  Governor John Bel Edwards says the billions of dollar spent to shore up levees after Hurricane Katrina is an example of the state building back better.  And, Edwards says this could have been a much more expensive storm.

Cut 11  (11)  …would have happened.

State Rep. Tanner Magee noted the power of Ida in Terrebonne Parish

Cut 3  (12)   …into the Gulf.

__________________________

We’re still seeing long lines at the few gas stations that have the fuel.  Kevin Gallagher on what’s behind the shortage.

Cut 1  (30)   “…SOQ.”

Despite the heartache and devastation of Hurricane Ida thousand of LSU fans are in Los Angeles gearing up for tomorrow night’s game against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.  Jim Dunigan chartered a flight that left Baton Rouge for LA last night.

Cut 15  (12)   “…especially one.”

Dunigan says it’s possible Tiger Nation will outnumber UCLA fans.

President Joe Biden was in Louisiana today to personally see the destruction left by Hurricane Ida. Biden took and aerial tour of southeast Louisiana parishes hit hardest by the storm. Biden says, though it will take billion to rebuild, the feds have the state’s back. He says this is why passing the proposed Infrastructure Bill is important, so the state can build back better…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…better way”

Encouraging news for residents powered by Entergy. The utility says they expect to make big progress over the weekend in restoring power; especially to customers in New Orleans. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip Mays…:

CUT 14  (11)        “…been made”

FEMA approves Transitional Sheltering Assistance for residents who evacuated for Hurricane Ida and have been staying in hotels or motels. FEMA spokesman Nate Custer says your first step to qualify for money to offset your hotel bill is to register with FEMA, by calling 800-621-3362 or go online to DisasterAssistance.gov…:

CUT 06  (12)        “transitional assistance”

The assistance is approved for evacuees who wound up most anywhere in the Gulf South.

Despite the heartache and devastation wrought by Hurricane Ida, thousands of LSU fans have left for Los Angeles to see the Fighting Tigers play UCLA in the Rose Bowl tomorrow night. Sports travel maven Jim Dumigan says he organized a charter flight to L.A. that left Thursday from Baton Rouge…:

CUT 15  (12)        “…especially one.”

Days after Hurricane Ida has moved on and we’re still seeing long lines at few stations with gas available. The primary problem is the very few stations with power ON, so they can pump gas…but many are running out. Exxon Baton Rouge spokesperson Stephanie Cargile says they have thousands of barrels of gas at their terminal. The problem is too few trucks to deliver it…:

CUT 22  (04)        “available”

Cargile says Exxon is reaching out to partners out-of-state to get more fuel trucks in to deliver the much-needed fuel.

Entergy says power should start coming back on soon for much of metro New Orleans; perhaps as soon as Wednesday. On Monday, Entergy had over 950-thousand customers without power. Today it’s below 700-k. Entergy VP of Distribution John Hawkins says the damage done to their grid is enormous…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…this storm”

President Joe Biden is in Louisiana this afternoon; surveying Hurricane Ida’s massive damage for himself. Mr. Biden says the federal government stand with Louisiana as it rebuilds..:

CUT        (09)        “gets done”

Biden says the hurricane recovery is an example of why Congress needs to pass an extensive infrastructure bill so that the state can build back better

Damage assessments from parishes like Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrebonne give testament to how powerful Hurricane Ida was. Houma state representative Tanner Magee says Terrebonne residents returning home need to steel themselves for what they’ll face…:

CUT 05  (12)        “…sweat a lot”

Ida is the 5^th strongest hurricane to ever hit the U.S.

Entergy announces preliminary times when power will be restored. Jeff Palermo shares the good news…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…I’m Jeff Palermo’

President Joe Biden is in Louisiana to personally see the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ida. Air Force One landed in New Orleans and the President is expected to head to St. John Parish and make a public statement from there sometime soon. Then he’ll do a flyover tour of areas hardest hit by the storm.

As Hurricane Ida damage assessments continue to come in, the sheer power of the storm becomes apparent. Houma area state Representative Tanner McGee says property damage in Terrebonne Parish is extensive…:

CUT 04  (09)        “…completely damaged”

Ida is the 5^th most powerful hurricane to ever hit the U.S.

FEMA approves Transitional Shelter Assistance (also called TSA) for those displaced by Hurricane Ida. Spokesman Nate Custer says evacuees need to locate their own hotel or motel, and the assistance only covers room expenses…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…so forth”

To see if you’re eligible call 800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov

President Biden has landed in New Orleans and will tour some of the hardest-hit areas of southeast Louisiana this afternoon. The President will be accompanied by Governor Edwards and some members of the state’s congressional delegation and local leaders. He is touring the area via helicopter. His first stop will be in St John the Baptist Parish.

FEMA has approved Transitional Sheltering Assistance for residents who’ve been displaced by Hurricane Ida. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer the first step to qualify for any assistance is to register with FEMA. Custer says displaced residents will have to locate their own hotel room and lodging has been extended across the deep south.

Cut 7 (10) “…hotel room.”  

You can register by calling 1-800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

The damage assessments keep coming in from Hurricane Ida, and the power of the storm is becoming clearer in descriptions such as this passed on by State Representative Tanner Magee of Houma.

Cut 3 (12) “…into the Gulf.”

Magee says the property damage in Terrebonne Parish is extensive.

Entergy believes much of metro New Orleans will see power return by Wednesday. But the utility provider says it could be much longer for restoration estimates for the River Parishes along with Terrebonne, Lafourche, and lower Jefferson Parish. Entergy’s vice president of distribution operations, John Hawkins, says the damage done to their system is enormous…

Cut 13 (12) “..this storm”