If you experienced damage from Hurricane Ida, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards is touring Hurricane Ida storm damage today. Jeff Palermo has more from one of the governor’s stops…

Cut 2 (35)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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If you suffered damage from Hurricane Ida, FEMA says to reach out to your insurance carrier first before applying for federal assistance.  FEMA cannot legally cover any damage that is already covered by your current insurance. FEMA spokesperson John Mills…

Cut 3 (12) “…or not.”

Mills says more than 13-hundred FEMA employees have been deployed to the state for response to Ida.

FEMA may be able to provide grants for basic home repairs so homeowners can restore their homes to a habitable condition. Mills says FEMA can also help residents who need to relocate temporarily.

Cut 4 (12) “…next steps.” 

In addition to home repairs and relocation costs, Mills says FEMA may also be able to assist with other expenses not covered by insurance.

Cut 5 (12) “…assistance.”

Mills says the fastest and easiest way to apply is by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov

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The 40 or so people who decided to ride out Hurricane Ida at Grand Isle have all been accounted for and are safe. The coastal town in Jefferson Parish experienced wind speeds of 140-miles per hour. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says she has spoken with Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle

Cut 6 (09) “…on steroids” 

Sheng says Camardelle believes as many as 85-percent of the structures on the island sustained some sort of damage

Cut 7 (07) “..wind event”  

Sheng is advising Jefferson Parish residents who evacuated to stay away as they are without water. Parish officials are also looking to bus people out of the parish who are living without any running water or air conditioning. She says these are difficult times…

Cut 8 (12 “..not be broken”

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Governor Edwards says he saw catastrophic damage following a flyover of hurricane-stricken southeast Louisiana. Edwards spoke briefly with reporters in LaPlace, a city that experienced substantial flooding…

Cut 9 (12) “..St. John the Baptist Parish” 

With homes and businesses empty there are concerns some will take advantage and attempt to loot. St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre had this message for looters..

Cut 10 (10)        by yourself” 

Tregre says 9-1-1 service is spotty, which means residents who have stayed behind will take matters into their own hands if they come across someone trying to commit a crime against them.

Edwards says he spoke with Entergy for two hours last night discussing the lack of power in southeast Louisiana. In St. Charles Parish, officials there say it may take at least one month before power is restored. Edwards is hopeful some hurricane victims will get power before then

Cut  11 (10) “…being restored”  

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Even though Hurricane Ida is long gone, flooding is still a concern in Tangipahoa Parish. Parish President Robby Miller says the Tangipahoa River is expected to crest well above flood stage at 25 feet at Robert during the overnight hours

Cut 12 (10) “…people flooded 

Miller says homes along the Tangipahoa River are already starting to flood…

Cut 13 (12) “…more people.”

Hammond officials say the city is completely out of gas.

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As many residents remain without power due to Hurricane Ida, a heat advisory has been issued with high temperatures expected to reach into the mid-90s today and tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the advisory is due to the high temps and humidity.

Cut 14 (11) “…and Friday.”

Keim says because several residents are unable to cool off with a lack of air conditioning, they are advising you to stay out of the sun during the heat of the day and to delay clean up around your home until temperatures cool down to avoid heatstroke.

Cut 15 (09) “…smart about it.”

Catastrophic is the word local officials use as initial damage assessments come in from where Hurricane Ida came ashore as a Category Four storm. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Hurricane Ida left New Orleans damaged and without power, but Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the community and first responders held the line. Erik Piccoli has the story.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Erik Piccoli.”  

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Hurricane Ida has left New Orleans powerless, but the worst-case scenario has been avoided because the levees held preventing another Katrina-like flood event. Mayor LaToya Cantrell says today is a day of assessment to determine what the actual impact of the storm is as city agencies make the rounds…

Cut 3 (9) “…has been left out”

So far the city has noted collapsed buildings and fires but no extensive damages. Cantrell reports only one death directly caused by the storm.

Cut 4 (14) “…is still too many” 

New Orleans residents who have evacuated the city have been asked to remain where they are if they can. The mayor says Entergy is working on the power and AT&T is trying to restore mobile service. Cantrell has called on businesses with generators to be good neighbors…

Cut 5 (12) “…no doubt about it”

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Coastal parishes of southeast Louisiana are reporting catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ida. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Brennan Matherne says he rode out the storm in Galliano and experienced Ida’s wrath for several hours. He says the eye of the storm crossed over the town of Lockport

Cut 6 (09) “…southern area” 

Matherne says the good news is that their levee systems held up to the storm.

Cut 7 (12) “..in Lafourche Parish”  

Matherne says Ida was worst for Lafourche, than hurricanes Betsy, Gustav and Katrina…

Cut 8 (06) “…before”

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Jefferson Parish officials have told its residents that it will take 21 days for 90-percent of Entergy customers in that parish to receive power. A major transmission tower that feeds electricity to Orleans and Jefferson Parishes was knocked into the river last night. Jefferson Parish councilman Scott Walker has been in contact with Entergy…

Cut 9 (11) “..be a process” 

Walker says they have also been told the parish will be without water for five days. He says they are asking residents to be patient as basic services are restored…

Cut 10 (12) “…this before”

The Jefferson Parish coastal town of Grand Isle took the brunt of Hurricane Ida. Walker says before the gauge broke, wind speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour were recorded…

Cut  11 (13) “…this morning”  

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Ochsner reports many of their facilities experienced roof damage as a result of Hurricane Ida’s strong winds. Ochsner Health President Warner Thomas says there was so much damage at their hospitals in Houma and Raceland that the patients at those locations have been taken elsewhere

Cut 12 (11) “…blow in” 

The emergency rooms at St. Anne Hospital in Raceland and Chabert Medical Center in Houma remain open. A total of 65 patients were transferred.

Thomas says Ida”s destruction has not stopped them from providing quality care to their patients…

Cut 13 (13) “…emergent.” (2x)

Some areas of southeast Louisiana could be without water for days and electricity for weeks. But Thomas says they prepare for these difficult situations…

Cut 14 (15) “..ready to go”

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Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says they are trying to get emergency crews out to answer 9-1-1 calls that came in last night but before first responders can venture out, they have to get clearance from Entergy due to the number of down powerlines. Miller encourages residents to be mindful as well.

Cut 15 (13) “…enegrized” 

Miller says so far, they have not had any reports of major injuries in the parish. Overall he says they do have lots of trees and powerlines down. But Miller says they do have reports of some homes flooding as a result of flash flooding on from the river.

Cut 16 (12) “…clear us.” 

As for electricity Miller says you might as well say the parish is 100-percent without power.