An investigation is underway into the death of four nursing home patients who were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish ahead of Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (41) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The death toll in Louisiana from Hurricane Ida is up to nine. That includes these nursing home deaths and three individuals who died of carbon monoxide poisoning in Jefferson Parish.

President Joe Biden arrives in Louisiana later today to survey Hurricane Ida damage. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says there’s little doubt in his mind the President will be taken aback by the destruction…
cut 14 (08) “…wrenching for anyone”
President Biden has said the federal government is here to help Louisiana.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon wants to debunk a rumor that’s circulating. Donelon says insurance companies can not cancel your coverage or raise your rates based on filing a claim due to property damage from Hurricane Ida…
cut 6 (12) “:….or cancel”
Donelon encourages storm victims who suffered property damages to file their claims now in order to get an adjuster to come to your home.

Four nursing home residents are dead after seven nursing homes in Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, and Terrebonne Parishes were evacuated last Friday to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish located in Independence. Independence Police Chief Frank Edwards says the warehouse owned by Waterbury Companies was only equipped for 300 to 350 patients.
Cut 10 (10) “…transported here.”
According to The Advocate the seven nursing homes are owned by Bob Dean, who has not commented.

President Biden will travel to New Orleans today to see first-hand the Hurricane Ida damage. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter will be among the contingent from Louisiana who will greet the President when he arrives…
cut 13 (10) “….by this storm”

If you sustained wind damage from Hurricane Ida, the state’s insurance commissioner has some advice for you. Kevin Gallagher has more.
Cut 1 (29) “…Gallagher reporting.”

According to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, 878-thousand customers are still without power. That’s 39-percent of the state’s utility customers.

Entergy officials say they are working on providing the public with estimated power restoration times. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A lack of gasoline and many stations without electricity to power pumps are hampering recovery efforts in southeast Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more from Governor Edwards

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Entergy officials plan to complete their damage assessments today, which will allow them to give customers an estimated restoration time. Entergy Louisiana President Phillip May says thousands of customers should have electricity back soon

Cut 3 (08) “…block of customers.”

May says they are starting to make progress in restoring power to coastal parishes that did not receive the brunt of the storm…

Cut 4 (12) “…like this” 

May says returning power to critical infrastructure is a priority and that includes hotels because they have 25-thousand linemen helping to get the lights back on…

Cut 5 (06) “…recovery.”

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The lack of fuel for cars and generators continues to plague the Bayou State amidst recovery from Hurricane Ida. Governor John Bel Edwards says as many as eight refineries were down in Louisiana earlier this week, only adding insult to injury.

Cut 6 (10) “… brought in.” 

Edwards says the state did get a break in the form of a waiver from the IRS to use red dye, or off-road diesel, in the parishes of southeast Louisiana for 15 days.

The Governor says he’s been in discussions with the White House to have fuel sent as soon as possible to the state to ease gas lines and assist emergency responders.

Cut 7 (14) “…southeast Louisiana.”  

Edwards points out the irony that two-thirds of the state’s refinery capacity is down…

Cut 8 (13) “…it should”

Edwards says the President has the ability to ask the Department of Energy along with other Federal agencies, and those in the private sector, to send fuel to Louisiana.

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A 57-year-old Keithville man, Clemon Hanson, Sr., is being held on 900-thousand dollars bond on an array of child sex charges. Caddo Parish sheriff’s office spokesperson, Cindy Chadwick, says the crimes date back for decades.

Cut 9 (10) “…years or so” 

Chadwick says Detective Chris Ardoin says Hanson may have committed similar crimes against other victims and in parishes other than Caddo.
Cut 10 (8) “…with Detective Ardoin.”

Cut 10 (08)     Detective Ardoin.” 

Chadwick says it wasn’t until this past July when a complaint alleged that Hanson forced a juvenile to watch pornography.

Cut  11 (11) “…to the 1980s.”  

The charges against Hanson include the aggravated rape of a 12-year-old when he was 19.

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President Joe Biden provided an update today on how the federal government is helping Louisiana recover from Hurricane Ida. The president, who will tour the devastation tomorrow, says his administration is working on increasing the supply of gasoline

Cut 12 (11) “…the pumps”  

Mr. Biden says to help utility companies assess the damage from the storm in order to restore the power, the F-A-A has authorized the use of surveillance drones and the Pentagon will provide satellite imagery…

Cut 13 (13) “..the parishes”

The President has also heard some insurance companies may deny coverage for additional living assistance expenses unless the homeowner was under a mandatory evacuation. Biden is asking insurance providers not to use technicalities to duck their responsibilities

Cut 14 (14) “…so fast””

President Joe Biden will visit southeast Louisiana to get a first-hand look at the damage left behind by Hurricane Ida. Governor Edwards says the President has already approved his request for a major federal disaster declaration. This means for the first 30 days after landfall the federal government’s cost-share will be 100-percent for debris removal and emergency protective measures.
Cut 8 (11) “…quickly.”

Terrebonne Parish was hit hard by Hurricane Ida. Parish President Gordon Dove says they are working to set up a makeshift hospital because Terrebonne General and Leonard Chabert Medical Center are closed due to roof damage…
cut 5 (06) “…course utilities”
Nearly 99-percent of Terrebonne customers are without electricity.

With Hurricane Ida causing historical damage in the Bayou State, FEMA’s Blue Roof Program is back. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office is reporting a Hurricane Ida death. Deputies say a man died when his shed collapsed, most likely from Ida’s destructive winds.

And on the COVID front, the state health department is reporting two more pediatric deaths. The total number of pediatric deaths in the state from COVID is up to 13.

President Biden will visit hurricane-damaged areas of Louisiana tomorrow and Governor Edwards has a list of requests he would like to see the federal government grant…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Today Governor Edwards will survey Ida damage in St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Tangipahoa Parishes. He’ll hold a media briefing at 5:15 in his hometown of Amite City. Over 900-thousand customers are without power and a lack of gasoline is also slowing response and recovery efforts.

FEMA’s Blue Roof Program is back, and according to Governor John Bel Edwards, it’s the quickest the agency has implemented the plan to help folks with hurricane-damaged roofs in Louisiana. Edwards says if you sustained roof damage, you should take advantage of the Army Corps of Engineers program that will cover the roof with fiber-reinforced sheeting…
Cut 13 (11) “…assistance.”
For more information go to blue-roof-dot-us.

Among the state’s areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ida, Terrebonne Parish is struggling to get back to some level of normalcy. Parish President Gordon Dove says he’s pleased the flooding was minimal for areas protected by levees.
Cut 4 (11) “…with water.”
Dove says they are working to set up a makeshift hospital because Terrebonne General and Leonard Chabert Medical Center are closed due to roof damage.

Governor Edwards says a major part of his focus is getting more gasoline into southeast Louisiana to help fuel vehicles and generators. Long lines are common at any gas station that has fuel. Congressman Garret Graves has asked the Department of Energy and the EPA to authorize the release of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Hit hard by Hurricane Ida, Terrebonne Parish hits the road to recovery with a positive outlook. Kevin Gallagher has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…Gallagher reporting.”

According to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, 909-thousand customers are without power this morning. Entergy’s outage map shows that some lights are coming back on in parts of the French Quarter and the C-B-D. Governor Edwards says some homes and businesses in New Orleans East also have electricity back…
cut 9 (08) “….coming days”
President Biden will visit the state tomorrow to get a first-hand look at the damage.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture has used its mobile pet shleter to give pets a temporary home while storm victims try to find housing. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says they have three critical need shelters in place to assist evacuees until they are able to take their pets with them…
cut 11 (05) “….those pets”
Louisiana National Guard soldiers rescued at least 55 pets from flooded homes and neighborhoods.