There has been some lawlessness in Lafourche Parish amid the destruction of Hurricane Ida, as is to be expected during a disaster situation.  Sheriff’s Captain Brennen Matherne notes there have been several looting arrests and nearly 50 others on other charges including curfew violations.

Cut 5 (12) “…by night contractor.”

If you suspect contractor fraud you can report it to a hotline number 985-413-4498.

Based on Entergy’s restoration times, there are customers in Lafourche Parish, Lower Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Terrebonne and much of Plaquemines Parish will not see their electricity return until September 29th. Entergy’s Phillip May says the goal is to beat that restoration time

Cut  11 (10) “…sooner than that”  

The average price per gallon for regular gas in the Bayou State stands at $2.88. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says prices are starting to stabilize but meeting demand has been the biggest hurdle in the state since Ida.

Cut 6 (09) “…$3.00 a gallon.” 

FEMA says it has approved more than 159-thousand applications for disaster assistance and nearly 175-million dollars to help Louisiana residents recover. FEMA spokesperson Patrick Boland says if you were impacted by Hurricane Ida, you should register at disasterassistance.gov…

cut 12 (11) “….register anyway”

You can also register at 1-800-621-FEMA.

President Biden spent much of the afternoon seeing first-hand the damage wrought by powerful Hurricane Ida.  He toured areas of southeast Louisiana battered by the storm, meeting with local and state officials leading response efforts. Biden pledges that the federal government will stand with the state to rebuild.  Governor John Bel Edwards says the billions of dollar spent to shore up levees after Hurricane Katrina is an example of the state building back better.  And, Edwards says this could have been a much more expensive storm.

Cut 11  (11)  …would have happened.

State Rep. Tanner Magee noted the power of Ida in Terrebonne Parish

Cut 3  (12)   …into the Gulf.

__________________________

We’re still seeing long lines at the few gas stations that have the fuel.  Kevin Gallagher on what’s behind the shortage.

Cut 1  (30)   “…SOQ.”

Despite the heartache and devastation of Hurricane Ida thousand of LSU fans are in Los Angeles gearing up for tomorrow night’s game against UCLA in the Rose Bowl.  Jim Dunigan chartered a flight that left Baton Rouge for LA last night.

Cut 15  (12)   “…especially one.”

Dunigan says it’s possible Tiger Nation will outnumber UCLA fans.

The death toll remains at four of nursing home patients evacuated Friday prior to Ida’s landfall from seven nursing homes in southeast Louisiana to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish.  More from Brooke Thorington.

(CUT 2)  (41)   SOQ

President Biden will visit storm-damaged Louisiana this afternoon.

When President Biden makes a stop in Lafourche this afternoon, he’s not likely to miss the massive destruction to the parish’s utility infrastructure.  Entergy’s Deanna Lafont says with only 40-percent of the damage assessed thus far, at least 1200 poles were damaged or downed by the powerful winds of Ida.

Cut 8 (11)  “…people get power.”

When it comes to filing a claim for property damage sustained by Ida’s winds and rain, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says to file a claim with your insurance carrier sooner than later.  He says even if your Named Storm Deductible is higher than your assessed damage, it counts against any possible future claims this year.  He notes that Lake Charles’ double-whammy last year from Hurricanes Laura and Delta occurred within six weeks of each other.

Cut 5  (11)   “…it did.”  

So far, no word on the cause of deaths for four nursing home residents evacuated prior to Hurricane Ida to a warehouse in Independence. The town’s police Chief Frank Edwards, the brother of Louisiana’s governor, says the Waterbury Companies-owned building was only equipped for up to 350 patients.

Cut 10 (10)  “…transported here.”

State health director Dr. Joe Kanter says LDH inspectors were initially expelled from the site.  Later during triage, 14 residents were determined to need immediate hospitalization, four of the patients later dying.  Kanter says an investigation continues.

Cut 12 (12)  “….they need.”

The identities of the victims have not been released.  According to health department officials, unless a mandatory evacuation order is issued, nursing homes are left to make the decision on when and where to evacuate patients to.

President Biden travels to Louisiana today to see up-close and personal the destruction caused by Hurricane Ida.  Congressman Troy Carter of New Orleans says Biden’s visit and assessment of the situation could lead to even more help that storm victims sorely need.

Cut 14  (08)   wrenching for anyone.’

Carter says he’ll ask that more money be put into the investment of underground powerlines, thus easing the possibility of people being without power for weeks or even months during the hottest time of the year.

Among those parishes with a long road ahead to recovery of its utility infrastructure is Lafourche where Biden will visit.  Entergy’s Deanna Lafont says the situation in the parish is nothing short of bad.

(Cut 7)  10   “facilities are damaged.”

With only 40-percent of the damage assessed as of Thursday, more than 12-hundred poles were found broken and downed, a number far exceeding the damage caused by Hurricane Zeta.

The state Department of Health reports four seniors have died after being evacuated to a facility in Tangipahoa Parish. The persons were brought out of areas in the hurricane’s strongest path. Definitive causes of death have NOT yet been established. LDH expressed concerns about conditions at the Tangipahoa facility.

Hurricane Ida recovery efforts are being hampered by the lack of available gasoline and power for gas pumps in southeast Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more from the Governor…:

CUT 02  (30)        “…Thorington”

President Biden will tour hurricane-damaged areas of Louisiana tomorrow.  Earlier today, he gave an update on how the federal government is helping the Bayou State recover from Ida.  It includes working to increase the supply of gasoline.

Cut 12  (11)   ….the pumps.

A Keithville man is behind bars in Caddo Parish on multiple child sex charges that date back as far as four decades ago.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says it was this past July that a complaint filed alleging 57-year-old Clemon Hanson, Sr. forced a juvenile to watch pornography that got things rolling against him.

Cut 11 (11)  “…to the 1980s.”

Charges against Hanson include the aggravated rape of a 12-year-old when Hanson was 19. He’s being held on a 900-thousand-dollar bond.

President Joe Biden is promising a massive federal response to help southeast Louisiana rebuild 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”  

The President has also heard some insurance companies may deny coverage for additional living assistance expenses unless the homeowner was under a mandatory evacuation.

Meantime Governor John Bel Edwards 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.

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 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” 

A 57-year-old Keithville man, Clemon Hanson, Sr., is being held on 900-thousand dollars bond on a number of child sex charges. Caddo Parish sheriff’s office spokesperson, Cindy Chadwick, says the crimes date back for decades to the 1980s. She says Detective Chris Ardoin says Hanson may have committed similar crimes against other victims and in parishes other than Caddo.
Cut 10 (08)     Detective Ardoin.” 

Hard hit Terrebonne Parish is slowly on the road to recovery. Kevin Gallagher says folks there are working to keep a positive outlook despite all of the destruction.
(Cut 1) :30 SOQ.
A Caddo Parish man is behind bars charged with sex crimes involving juveniles dating back to the 1980s. He’s 57-year-old Clemon Hanson Sr. of Keithville. A U.S. Marshal’s Task Force arrested him on a warrant accusing him of aggravated rape, molestation, and indecent behavior with juveniles.

Local, state and congressional leaders are continuing to assess the damage from Hurricane Ida, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Scheng admitting that an air tour of the damage on Wednesday helped bring the extent of destruction into sharper focus:
Cut 7 (07) “….communities.

FEMA’s Blue Roof program is back following Ida’s onslaught. The coverings are provided free of charge to homes with damage of less than 50 percent from hurricane force winds. Congressman Steve Scalise says it’s also a necessity that the home still be habitable.
Cut 15 (11) “…roof fixed

You can visit blueroof.us for more information on the program and to see if you qualify for the assistance. Thirteen parishes, not including East Baton Rouge Parish, are designated as participants in the Blue Roof program.

Grim continues to be an on-point description of the situation on Grand Isle following Hurricane Ida. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng indicates a catastrophe occurred on the barrier island.
Cut 3 (13) “…are damaged.”
The usually inhabited island has few people on it today, including the mayor, police chief and first responders. Communication systems on the island were non-existent at last word. However, Sheng says efforts are underway to set up a form of communication so that information can be relayed to the residents of Grand Isle.
meantime, according to Jefferson Parish Councilman, Ricky Templet 15 breaches occurred in the Burrito Levee that needs to be fixed immediately given the hurricane season is at its peak and has months to go.

The sheriff of Ascension Parish says finding gasoline remains a difficult task for drivers. Many stations’ fuel tanks are dry, while there are long lines of vehicles at those stations that do have gas. Sheriff Bobby Webre says the local refineries are at last word not supplying his agency and the parish’s gas stations.
Cut 9 (13) “…we are.”
Webere says he’s in the dark so far about why local refineries aren’t up and running, but believes it may be due to company protocols. Webre says he can’t remember such a fuel shortage unless you go back to Hurricane Andrew…and that was 29 years ago. congressman Garrett Graves says he’s discussed the situation with the White House.
Cut 14 (11) “…sources of energy.”
President Biden is scheduled to tour Louisiana on Friday, but details of his visit have not been released.

Hurricane Ida is on its way out of the state north out of St. Helena and East Feliciana Parishes, still as a category one hurricane. Kevin Gallagher reports the state government is ready to move in to begin recovery once the sun rises on a battered Bayou State…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m  Kevin Gallagher” 

President Biden approved Governor Edwards’ request for a President Major Disaster Declaration, clearing the way for a massive influx of federal aid.

Despite a historic battering the federal levee system around the New Orleans area held strong and kept Ida from recreating the worst of Hurricane Katrina’s citywide flooding. U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says that’s because 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.”

Over a million households and businesses are without power this morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says because the damage was so widespread it may take quite a while for everyone to get their lights back.

Cut 5 (11) “…back up.”

So far only one confirmed death from Ida, that being an ascension parish man who died when a tree hit his home.

Hurricane Ida is expected to exit the state sometime within the next hour after sulking across the southeastern portion of The Boot for over 12 hours. The system is still a hurricane, but much weaker now a category one after making landfall near Port Fourchon as a Category Four.

Power is out to over a million households and businesses in Louisiana right now, with the outlook bleak for a quick recovery. A transmission tower supplying New Orleans and the East Bank of Jefferson Parish is down and lines into far southeastern portions have been taken offline.

President Biden approved the state’s request for a President Major Disaster Declaration, saying the feds will be there to help the region get back on its feet, as long as it takes…

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

2.5 meals have been positioned to go out to needy communities.

In just a few hours those in Southeast Louisiana will wake up to survey damage from the historically powerful Hurricane Ida.

It’ll likely take the rest of the day to get a full accounting but already we know coastal communities were devastated, Laplace faced shockingly high levels of flooding, and the New Orleans Metro Area may be without power for an extended period. State Climatologist Barry Keim…

Cut 3, 10 seconds, here

Keim says and the rain totals stayed low and the federal levees we can be fairly sure we aren’t looking at devastation on the level we saw from Katrina…

Cut 4, 10 seconds, densities