The fall elections have been pushed back due to hurdles created by Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The National Hurricane Center says a tropical wave in the Gulf fo Mexico, southeast of Louisiana, could develop into a tropical depression tonight or tomorrow. But the good news for Louisiana, this weather system, is headed for Florida. Heavy rainfall is likely across portions of the Florida panhandle and Georgia.

There is finally movement in getting more disaster relief dollars to southwest Louisiana following last year’s devastating hurricanes. The White House has made a formal request to make two-point-three billion dollars available to the region for long-term recovery needs, much of that money can go towards rebuilding homes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter…
cut 7 (12) “….a top priority”
Congress is expected to approve the President’s financial request and then federal and state agencies have to decide exactly how the money will be appropriated.

Hospitals are closed in hard-hit Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes as a result of Hurricane Ida…
cut 14 (11) “….in Houma”
That’s Ochsner Health president Warner Thomas who says the emergency departments at both of those hospitals are still up and running. Thibodaux Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Terrebonne and Lafourche that’s fully operational.

Terrebonne Parish does not have a fully functioning hospital since Hurricane Ida came ashore on August 29th. Terrebonne General sustained considerable roof, water, and electrical damage and Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says the Chabert Medical Center in Houma took a significant hit from the storm

Cut 12 (12) “services there”  

There’s great news today for southwest Louisiana residents awaiting much-needed federal dollars for ongoing repairs from Hurricane Laura last year.  Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the White House is requesting Congress send two-point-three-billion-dollars to the region.

Cut 6 (07) “…huge step forward.” 

Hunter says it’ll be a while before the funds are sent due to the number of people that must sign off.

The October primary election could be delayed a month. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the hurricane has created hurdles for the October 9^th primary and while he’s heard from several civic groups in support of postponing the election, he admits he has received feedback from some candidates and advertisers who are not in favor of the postponement.

Cut 5 (10) “…importance.”

The governor is expected to make a decision very soon.

Ten days into the restoration effort, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 345-thousand utility customers in southeast Louisiana are without power. That’s down from more than one million outages after Hurricane Ida roared through the Bayou State. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says they hope to make significant process in St. Charles Parish soon

Cut  11 (12) “..of power.”  

There’s a high probability the October primary in Louisiana will be postponed to November due to Hurricane Ida. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s plan is to move the primary from October 9^th to November 13^th and the November 13^th election to December 11^th and while October 9^th might seem like enough time there are a number of deadlines that fall before an election.

Cut 4  (12) “..an issue.” 

The governor is expected to decide on the election postponement very soon.

Ten days into the restoration effort, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 345-thousand utility customers in southeast Louisiana are without power. That’s down from more than one million outages after Hurricane Ida roared through the Bayou State. Over 94-percent of the utility customers in Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, and St. John the Baptist Parishes are without power.

The Louisiana Department of Health has taken further action against the owner of the seven nursing homes that evacuated over 800 residents to a Tangipahoa warehouse ahead of Hurricane Ida. Dave Brannen has more…

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Descriptions of the massive destruction left behind by Hurricane Ida are almost endless, Senator John Kennedy who visited Houma and Thibodaux on Tuesday called the damage “breathtaking”, coupled with a lot of “misery”.

Cut 21 (10) “…2005 with Katrina.”

Kennedy says he’s thankful we didn’t see a greater loss of life as with Katrina.

There’s a high probability that the fall election in Louisiana will be postponed to November due to hurdles imposed by Hurricane Ida. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin presented a plan to the Governor to move election day from October 9^th to November 13^th and the November 13^th election to December 11^th.

Cut 3 (12) “…and food.”

The Louisiana Department of Health is acting to close seven nursing homes that the state says failed to properly evacuate hundreds of nursing home residents as Hurricane Ida approached.  LDH executive counsel, Stephen Russo says hundreds of nursing home residents were evacuated to a warehouse facility in Tangipahoa Parish and that an initial attempt at inspecting the warehouse was rebuffed.

Cut 14 (11) “nursing homeowner.”

Many displaced Ida residents are waiting on the approval of the disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says for DSNAP to go into effect it is designed to unfold in a sequence. A second stage includes distributing household products from their various partners, calling it a thought-out process because you can’t send out DSNAP cards immediately following a hurricane.

Cut 8 (11) “…a reason.”

The Louisiana Department of Health is taking formal action against seven nursing homes that the state alleges failed to properly evacuate hundreds of nursing home residents as Hurricane Ida approached.  LDH executive counsel, Stephen Russo.

Cut13  (11)   “…to their residents.”

And as such, Russo says the licenses of all seven facilities are being revoked and their Medicaid provider agreements have been terminated.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Louisiana which serves the greater New Orleans area says they’ve been extremely busy post-Ida both with receiving donations and distributing food.  Second Harvest Spokesperson Jay Vise says they are helping people in some of the most hurricane-impacted areas of southeast Louisiana.

Cut 10 (11) “…as possible.” 

Many displaced Ida residents are waiting on the approval of DSNAP or the disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says for DSNAP to go into effect it is designed to unfold in a sequence due to lack of power and accessibility. The first stage is points of distribution sites for food.

Cut 7 (05) “…assistance.”

The second stage includes distributing household products from their various partners.

Senator Kennedy says that as storm victims deal with short-term problems such as power outages and no internet, housing will be a long-term setback for many.

Cut 5 (11) “…place to live.”

Kennedy says the state’s congressional delegation is together with Governor Edwards on doing a stand-alone bill to provide supplemental disaster housing relief for south Louisiana and those in the northeast hit hard by Ida.

State health officials have revoked the licenses of the nursing homes that evacuated over 800 residents to a warehouse in Tangiaphoa Parish. Seven deaths have been linked to the evacuation as conditions inside the warehouse deteriorated due to a lack of supplies, space and staff. L-D-H executive counsel Stephen Russo says an initial attempt at inspecting the warehouse was rebuffed…
cut 14 (11) “…nursing homeowner”
Businessman Bob Dean owns the nursing homes located in Orleans, Lafourche, Jeffferson and Terrebonne parishes.

Senator John Kennedy says he’s never seen the kind of damage Hurricane Ida caused and he’s received assurances from the President that the federal government will provide the resources to get Louisianians back on their feet…
cut 6 (07) “….what we need”

The state’s top election official has asked the governor to postpone the fall elections by a month….
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Ardoin says local election officials and civic groups support pushing back the October primary to November and holding the general election in December. Two constitutional amendments, three legislative sets and the New Orleans mayoral race are on the October ballot.

The Louisiana Department of Health has revoked the licenses from the owner of the seven nursing homes that sent over 800 residents to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish. The residents arrived in Independence prior to Hurricane Ida’s landfall and conditions inside the facility deteriorated according to LDH executive counsel Stephen Russo…
cut 15 (09) “….was not met”
State health officials say seven nursing home patients sent to the facility have died.

Second Harvest Food Bank says they’ve delivered one-point-one million pounds of food, water and supplies to Hurricane Ida survivors. Second Harvest spokesperson Jay Vise says they’ve delivered food and supplies to heavily impacted areas like LaPlace and Lafourche and they are only able to do so due to donations…
cut 12 (07) “…so much”

Senator John Kennedy met with Hurricane Ida victims in Houma and Thibodaux yesterday. Dave Brannen spoke with the state’s junior senator following his visit…
cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

There is finally movement in getting more disaster relief dollars to southwest Louisiana following last year’s devastating hurricanes. The White House has made a formal request to make two-point-three billion dollars available to the region for long-term recovery needs, much of that money can go towards rebuilding homes.

The Louisiana Department of Health has taken further action against the owner of the seven nursing homes that evacuated over 800 residents to a Tangipahoa warehouse ahead of Hurricane Ida. Dave Brannen has more…
cut 3 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

Despite those efforts, there have been seven nursing home deaths linked to the evacuation. The owner of the nursing homes is businessman Bob Dean.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has asked Governor Edwards to delay the fall elections for a month to November and December. Edwards is considering Ardoin’s request.

The adverbs to describe the massive destruction left behind by Hurricane Ida are almost endless, Senator John Kennedy who visited Houma and Thibodaux on Tuesday called the damage “breathtaking”, coupled with a lot of “misery”.
Cut 4 (10) “…2005 with Katrina.”
Kennedy will return to Capitol Hill next week and push for Congress to approve funding that can help with the long-term housing needs.

Louisiana Departement of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters believes they’ll get approval soon from the federal government to offer disaster food stamps. Walters says residents who suffered food loss during the storm are urged to preregister…
cut 9 (11) “…mail to you”
To receive DSNAP information you can call 2-1-1 or text DSNAP to 898-211.