Ida is down to a category two hurricane after making landfall earlier today as a powerful category four. The slow moving storm is currently moving through Livingston Parish blasting the Northshore with powerful winds and heavy rain.

A transmission tower that provides power for New Orleans and the east bank of Jefferson Parish reportedly collapsed into the Mississippi River a few hours ago plunging nearly all of the Greater New Orleans area into darkness and threatening the region’s ability to pump out water that was dumped in by Ida. At least 900,000 households across southeast Louisiana have lost power with that number almost certain to cross a million by the end of the hour.

Ochsner says they will be evacuating everyone from St. Anne Hospital in Raceland after Ida ripped off a portion of the facility’s roof and the building began taking on water.

The state confirms the first fatalitiy reportedly linked to Ida, a man in Acension parish who died after a tree fell on his home.

Governor Edwards has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the massive damage southeast Louisiana is experiencing from Hurricane Ida. In the meantime, Edwards has activated the entire Louisiana National Guard, which means 49-hundred soldiers are able to respond to this disaster

Cut 9 (10) “…34 helicopters.”

And despite the power woes plaguing New Orleans the city’s 15 billion dollar federal levee system appears to have passed a major test and held up against storm surge pumped in by Ida. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says the levee system that protects the metro New Orleans area was built to protect against a 100-year level of storm surge, which is a surge that has a one-percent chance of happening…

Cut 15 (14)“…the area”

Hurricane Ida has been downgraded to a category two hurricane and is now past Laplace and should be in Livingston Parish within the hour.
The state is reporting the first confirmed Ida-related casualty. A man in Ascension Parish was killed when a tree fell on his home along LA 621 just north of Gonzales.
Over 900,000 people in Louisiana are now without power according to the Public Service Commission with a near total loss of lights in Acsension, Terrbebonne, LaFourche, Jefferson, The River Parishes, Orleans, and St. Bernard. About 70 percent of Livinginston, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany are out.
These losses are likely to send many seeking shelter. Governor Edwards says that’s going be to a logistical problem it COVID still surging…
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State Climatologist Barry keim says Ida is one of the three most powerful systems to ever make landfall in the state…
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And unlike past storms Ida managed to maintain at major hurricane strength for hours as it piddled around in the marshlands of southeast Louisiana and butted up against a high pressure system that slowed it to a crawl. Keim says there’s a few reasons why Ida is still a powerful category two…
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The power situation at LRN unfortunately triggered the building fire alarm. After 25 minutes we managed to shut it off. As a result the 930 broadcast will be a rebroadcast of the 830. We will return at 9:55 with a new newcast. Appologies.

- Matt Doyle

LRN is begining to experience some problems with power flucuations related to Ida that are causing our computers to restart frequently. Due to this there may be delays in the posting of Newscall texts. We will work to get these texts posted as proptly as possible, but if you see a delay know that’s what is happening.

This should not result in delays in the actual broadcasts.

- Matt Doyle, LRN

Hurricane Ida continues its slow, devastating creep across Louisiana, with the eyewall closing in on LaPlace.

Despite Ida’s historic power officials are confident the federal levee systems surrounding the Greater New Orleans Area will hold. Governor John Bel Edwards says that region is more protected than ever before.

Cut 12 (13) “..outages.” 

This advance has left about 650 thousand customers without power across southeast Louisiana. Entergy reports nearly the entire City of New Orleans has gone dark after the area suffered “catastrophic transmission damage”. Across Plaquemine, Terrebonne, and LaFourche Parishes nearly all customers are without power and power is rapidly fading in St. Tammany and Tangipahoa.

Despite making “landfall” earlier today Ida is still a robust category three hurricane with sustained winds of 115 miles per hour. State Climatologist Barry keim says that’s because the system made landfall in the waterlogged southeastern marshlands…

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Ida is forecast to move past LaPlace and into Livingston Tangipahoa Parishes around 10 PM tonight.

Hurricane Ida continues to move further inland over southeastern Louisiana. At seven PM, the National Hurricane Center said the center of the storm was 55 miles southeast of Baton Rouge, with maximum sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, which means it’s still a Category Three hurricane.

According to the National Weather Service’s Ben Schott, Baton Rouge will see lesser impacts than expected, New Orleans area still seeing very high winds and heavy rain. Winds will gust between 60 and 80 miles per hour on the Northshore.

Thousands are without power. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says once it is safe to do so power crews will begin a massive restoration effort….
Cut 19 (11) “…effort.”
Governor Edwards says up to 30-thousand electricity linemen will fan out in the state once Ida leaves.

There’s confidence the levee system that protects New Orleans can withstand Hurricane Ida’s life-threatening storm surge. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says after Katrina the federal government spent 14.5 billion dollars on a system designed to reduce the damage from powerful hurricanes
Cut 13 (17) “…second line of defense.”
For those looking for a shelter, they can call 2-1-1 or text l-a shelter to 898 211. Governor Edwards says they already have sheltered 15-hundred evacuees, but more will be needed and they need a large space to do so, because of COVID…
Cut 10 (15) “…family groups”

After making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Port Fourchon with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, Hurricane Ida is down to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour. The center of the storm is passing just east of Matthews, which is in Lafourche Parish. The state health department says there was a partial generator failure at Thibodaux Regional which forced doctors and nurses to quickly move ICU patients to another floor.

The main levee system that protects the New Orleans metro area is expected to withstand Ida’s powerful storm surge. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says 14 billion dollars in federal money went towards building this extensive levee system…
cut 15 (14) “…the area”

Governor John Bel Edwards has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the massive damage southeast Louisiana is experiencing from Hurricane Ida. In the meantime, Edwards has activated the entire Louisiana National Guard, which means 49-hundred soldiers are able to respond to this disaster…
cut 9 (10) “…34 helicopters”
Utility companies are anticipating a massive restoration effort that could take weeks to complete. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says there will be some real challenges….
Cut 20 (14) “…back of homes.”
And this from the National Weather Service, there’s a tornado warning until seven o’ clock for Slidell, Lacombe and Pearl River.

Hurricane Ida made landfall shortly before noon today as a Category Four hurricane near Port Fourchon. Here’s how it sounded….
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In Terrebonne, Parish President Gordon Dove describes what he’s experienced so far.
Cut 3 (08) “…flying off.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Ida is now passing just east of Houma, with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The eye of the storm is about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans. But U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says the 130-mile ring of levees to protect the New Orleans metro area should hold up to Ida…
cut 14 (12) “…reslilient”

The state is reporting 15-hundred people are sheltered statewide in 23 different shelters. Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says to find a shelter, dial 2-1-1 or text L-A-shelter to 898-211. Walters also encourages evacuees to check with local government officials…
cut 8 (15) “…listening too”
Governor John Bel Edwards some of the state’s most vulnerable residents have also been evacuated out of harm’s way….
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Ochsner says all of their hospitals and emergency departments across the region remain open and they are also fully staffed at all of their facilities.

Hurricane Ida made landfall just before noon near Port Fourchon packing maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour. Ida’s maximum sustained winds have fallen to 130 miles per hour as it moves northwestward over southeastern Louisiana. New Orleans has yet to feel the brunt of the storm, but U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe believes the 14-point-five billion-dollar levee system constructed after Katrina can withstand Ida’s intense storm surge…
cut 13 (17) “…. second line of defense”
Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says the parish has a 78-mile levee system and as far as he can tell it’s holding up…
cut 5 (13) “…we’re ok”
But the property damage is expected to be intensive.

Governor Edwards says there are 15-hundred people sheltered statewide in 23 different shelters. Don Molino has info on how to find one…
cut 1 (35) “…I’m Don Molino”

Over 425-thousand Entergy customers are without power. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Freese says some customers in the hardest-hit areas could be without power for several weeks…
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The eye of Hurricane Ida came ashore just before 12:00 today in Port Fourchon, which is the southern tip of Lafourche. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Ida was packing winds at 150 miles per hour when it made landfall…
cut 17 (16) “…island hurricane”
Grand Isle has seen its fair share of hurricanes, but police chief Scooter Resweber told NOLA-dot-com that this is the worst he’s seen. The coastal town could be experiencing a storm surge as high as 16 feet to go along with 100-mile per hour plus winds.

President Joe Biden is keeping an eye on the situation from FEMA headquarters…
cut 2 (11) “…as it takes) (2x)

Hurricane Ida is making its way through coastal southeast Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. The eye of the storm is just west of Golden Meadow in Lafourche Parish. Over in Terrebonne Parish, Parish President Gordon Dove expects wind damage to be significant and encourages residents to shelter in place and even after Ida passes…
cut 4 (13) “…passes through”
Utility companies are anticipating a massive restoration effort that could take weeks to complete. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says there will be some real challenges….
Cut 20 (14) “…back of homes.”