Residents in 13 parishes that experienced hurricane-force winds are eligible for the Blue Roof Program. Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise says it’s a free service through the U-S Army Corps of Engineers that provides homeowners in disaster areas with a fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs…
cut 14 (11) “…roof fixed”
Interested residents can sign up at blue-roof-dot-us or call 1-888-766-3258.

Local, state and congressional leaders surveyed hurricane Ida’s damage by air Wednesday, and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng admits until she took to the air to view the entire devastation, she didn’t grasp the magnitude of Ida’s wrath.
Cut 7 (07) “…communities.”
President Biden will visit southeast Louisiana tomorrow to see the damage first-hand.

As of last night, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 959-thousand customers are without power. That’s 54-percent of the state’s utility customers. 99-percent of the customers are in the dark in Terrebonne Parish. Parish President Gordon Dove says once the power is restored, Terrebonne’s recovery from Ida can begin in earnest…
cut 6 (09) “….in Terrebonne Parish”
State leaders and Louisiana’s Congressional delegation are also working on getting more fuel into southeast Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry has deployed its mobile pet shelter and animal transport task force to help shelter and care for pets. The mobile pet shelter went to LaPlace to help out storm victims that do not have a place for their pet for the time being and Strain says his office is also assisting livestock owners affected by Ida relocate their animals…
cut 12 (08) “….reaching out”

More images and video is coming in that’s showing the widespread destruction from Hurricane Ida. Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is uninhabitable and will be that way for some time. Captain Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says every structure that he’s seen has suffered some sort of damage…
cut 8 (11) “…house to house”

Meanwhile, the Saints are looking at spending the next month of the season, possibly in Dallas, as they wait for power and other basic utility to return to the New Orleans area. Coach Sean Payton says there are a lot of pluses in being displaced in north Texas…
cut 14 (13) “…hosting us”
General Manager Mickey Loomis says an announcement could be made today on where the season opener will be played.

Gas shortages are plaguing the state and with a number of refineries not up and running after Ida, prices at the pump are expected to rise. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Officials have been concerned about generator use with so many individuals without power. New Orleans EM says seven kids and five adults were brought to the hospital after getting carbon monoxide poisoning. Heat will be an issue again today as there’s a heat advisory in effect statewide today and tomorrow.

We are getting a better idea of the extent of the damage Hurricane Ida did to southeast Louisiana. Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is uninhabitable as it is covered with three feet of sand. Congressman Garret Graves says he spent the day in LaPlace and he’s amazed by the amount of destruction…
cut 13 (12) “…of the hurricane”

Expect gasoline prices to rise over the next couple of weeks. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan says the price could go up five to 15 cents…
cut 4 (11) “…these refineries”
There’s also a shortage of gas in southeast Louisiana. Hammond officials say there is no more gas in their city and Ascension Parish leaders say they need fuel.

Entergy says 769-thousand of its customers remain without power in southeast Louisiana. But their outage map says power has returned to some portions of New Orleans east. Cleco reports says they are sending more resources to St. Tammany and Washington parishes after completing restoration efforts in Iberia and St. Mary parishes.

The Saints are planning to stay away from New Orleans for the first month of the regular season. Kevin Gallagher has the story…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Congressman Garret Graves says southeast Louisiana took a heck of a hit from Hurricane Ida. Graves’ district extends down into Thibodaux and lower Terrebonne Parish and he’s amazed by the widespread destruction the Category Four storm produced from storm surge to damaging winds…
cut 12 (14) “…and trees”
Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is uninhabitable. But over in Lafourche Parish, Captain Brennan Matherne with the sheriff’s office, says there is some good news for south Lafourche…
cut 7 (12) “..couple hundred years”
But Matherne says every single structure he’s seen in Lafourche has sustained some sort of wind damage.

Louisiana has received approval from the federal government to allow food stamp recipients to purchase hot food products for immediate consumption. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard…
Cut 10 (11) “…corner store.”
Howard says waving the restriction is vital because many residents are displaced.

Hurricane Ida has disrupted the production of oil and gas. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan, says prices could increase 5 to 15 cents over the next two weeks…
cut 5 (11) “…several weeks”
DeHaan says gas outages are also a big issue. Hammond officials say the city is out of gasoline and Ascension Parish leaders are begging for fuel trucks to re-fill their gas pumps.

Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is unhabitable and it might take five years to put the island back together after Hurricane Ida completely destroyed nearly 50 percent of the structures on the state’s only inhabited barrier island.

In Lafourche Parish, Captain Brennan Matherne with the sheriff’s office says every structure in the parish has sustained some sort of damage and there are also flooding issues…
cut 9 (13) “…some how’

Meanwhile, gas prices are on the rise as Hurricane Ida has slowed production and there are also gas shortages throughout southeast Louisiana. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says he knows of one refinery that took on water…
cut 6 (10) “…longer lasting”

Louisiana has received a waiver from the federal government that allows food stamp recipients to purchase hot food products for immediate consumption. DCFS Secretary Shavana Howard says the same hot food waiver will apply once disaster food stamps are approved. She encourages residents to pre-register for disaster food stamps
cut 11 (11) “…as well”

The Saints are looking at spending the next month in the Dallas area because of Hurricane Ida devastation that has left New Orleans nearly powerless. Coach Sean Payton says they are in the same position as the city’s residents…
Cut 13 (15) “…to that yet.”
The Saints are scheduled to kick-off the regular season on September 12th against the Green Bay Packers, but that game could be played in Dallas.

The first damage assessment from Grand Isle has come in and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says the vacation and fishing town is uninhabitable as there is three feet of sand across the entire island and 40-percent of the buildings are completely destroyed.

Significant property damage also occurred in Lafourche Parish. Erik Piccoli has more…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Erik Piccoli”

There is a glimmer of hope this morning. Power has returned to a few neighborhoods in New Orleans East.

Expect gasoline prices to rise over the next couple of weeks. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan says the price could go up five to 15 cents…
cut 4 (11) “…these refineries”
There’s also a shortage of gas in southeast Louisiana. Hammond officials say there is no more gas in their city and Ascension Parish leaders say they need fuel.

The federal government is allowing food stamp recipients in Louisiana to use their SNAP cards to purchase hot foods prepared for immediate consumption. But restaurant purchases are still prohibited. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavanna Howard says the same waiver would apply once Disaster Food Stamps are available…
cut 12 (12) “…those benefits’