Many Hurricane Ida storm survivors are receiving 500-dollars from FEMA after registering for disaster aid…
cut 11 (09) “…advantage of this”
FEMA spokesperson Patrick Boland says critical needs assistance goes to individuals displaced from their primary residence to help pay for life-sustaining items, like water, food, infant formula, medicine, and fuel.

Entergy says more than 51-percent of their customers have power again and CLECO says its restoration percentage is 90-percent. There are some who say why don’t utility companies bury the electricity infrastructure underground. Public Service Commissioner Doctor Craig Greene says it’s an idea that should be looked at, but it’s expensive and it might not prevent all power outages…
cut 5 (06) “….panacea”

SNAP Recipients in 18 parishes will see an increase in their benefits to help with food replacement lost during Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The tropics are not a concern for Louisiana right now and a cold front will move through the state later this week.

Progress continues to be made in getting the power restored after Hurricane Ida. But many are asking why can’t utility companies just move the infrastructure to distribute power underground. Don Molino reports it’s not that easy

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Don Molino.”

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If you live in a parish impacted by Hurricane Ida, you might be eligible for immediate critical needs assistance of $500. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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SNAP Recipients in 18 parishes will see an increase in their benefits cared to help with food replacement lost during Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The extensive and lengthy power outages from Hurricane Ida have spurred talk of moving power lines below the surface and building an electrical grid system underground. Public Service Commission Chairman Doctor Craig Greene says the cost would be enormous

Cut 4 (12) “…basis is.”

Greene says an underground power system would also not be the end of power outages…

Cut 5 (06) “…panacea.”

Greene says he supports studying the feasibility of moving equipment underground that supplies homes and businesses, but it will take federal assistance because Louisiana utility customers already believe their rates are high…

Cut 6 (12) “…the table.”

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The Times-Picayune and The Advocate reports the Louisiana Department of Health approved Bob Dean’s plans to evacuate as many as 700 nursing home residents to a warehouse in Independence, but L-D-H says the plan was not properly executed for Hurricane Ida. Governor John Bel Edwards had this to say about the situation…

Cut 7 (10) “…hotel room.”

Over 800 nursing home residents ended up at the facility in Independence, 20-percent more than what was submitted to the state. LDH says after landfall, backup generators failed, basic care needs were not met and there was a stench of urine and feces throughout the building. Edwards says it’s not easy to evacuate a nursing home, but there were dozens of other facilities that did it successfully

Cut 8 (10) “…safely.”

The state health department says there have been seven nursing home deaths connected to the evacuation and what happened afterward. Edwards says an investigation is ongoing

Cut 9 (09) “…every turn”

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FEMA is providing financial assistance to applicants with immediate or critical needs because they are displaced from their primary residence.  Those needs include but are not limited to water, food, first aid, medical supplies, and fuel for transportation. FEMA spokesperson Patrick Boland says those in affected parishes should register for $500 critical needs assistance.

Cut 10 (12) “…unmet needs.” 

You can do so by either calling FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) but be prepared for long hold times or if you have internet access register at DisasterAssistance.gov. Boland says you can receive the funds by whichever method is most convenient.

Cut 11 (09) “….advantage of this..”

Boland says more than 131 thousand have already received the $500 critical needs assistance with FEMA in Louisiana, the majority of which are from Orleans, St. Tammany, and Jefferson Parishes.

Boland highly encourages those in the affected parishes to register to get immediate relief. Even if you aren’t sure if you are eligible Boland says FEMA will make the determination, but the first step is the register.

Cut 12 (11) “…register anyway.”  

The FEMA designated parishes for assistance include Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana Parishes.

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SNAP recipients in 18 parishes impacted by Hurricane Ida will receive automatic additional benefits due to power outages that affected at least half the residents in the parish. Assistant Secretary for the Division of Family Support at Department of Children and Family Services, Shavana Howard says the USDA approved the waiver.

Cut 13 (11) “…month of August.”

Howards says the benefit should be available on their SNAP card by September 11^th. Those living in the affected parishes won’t have to do anything.

Cut 14 (11) “dcfs.la.gov/SNAPstorms.”

Howard says DCFS recognizes that the storm did extensive damage and was responsible for widespread power outages.

Cut 15 (07)“…their families.”

SNAP clients may need to provide documentation from their utility providers verifying the power outage.

The eighteen parishes include Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Washington.

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It’s Orgeron versus Orgeron when LSU hosts McNeese for the Fighting Tigers home opener in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron is looking for a good showing after a season-opening loss to UCLA, while Coach O’s son, Cody Orgeron is the starting Q-B for the Pokes

Cut  16 (15) “…let it fly”

Orgeron started three games in 2018 and became the full-time starter in 2019. This past week,  Orgeron threw for a career-high 361 yards in a season-opening loss to West Florida. Cody’s two other brothers currently serve on LSU’s coaching staff and Cody admits during the summer he gave his twin brother Parker the business…

Cut 17 (19) “…this point”  

McNeese went 3-and-4 during a special spring season. Ed Orgeron attended all of those games. Cody says he wasn’t there to scout the Cowboys

Cut 18 (14)”…for once”

The Louisiana Health Department says the operator of the nursing home homes that evacuated over 800 patients to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish failed to communicate with the state about the dire situation and failed to ask for help. Attorney General Jeff Landry is also pointing the finger at the Edwards Administration. Landry says his Medicaid Fraud Unit was never notified…
cut 14 (12) “…nursing home Patients”
Six nursing home residents evacuated to that facility in Tangipahoa Parish have now died.

A tropical disturbance in the Gulf is expected to stay south of Louisiana and head for Florida, according to forecasters. But the system could bring a significant amount of rain to the Bayou State mid-week The heaviest rain is possible is expected to fall south of Interstate 10.

While southeast Louisiana is in dire need of power and housing for displaced residents, it’s been over a year for southwest Louisiana residents who still need permanent housing after hurricanes Laura and Delta. Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s disappointing…

Cut 9 (09) “…we need.”

Senator Bill Cassidy says President Biden told him he’s committed to providing housing for Hurricane Laura and Delta victims in the next federal spending bill that needs to be approved by October 1st. Cassidy says he also spoke with Biden about the proposed infrastructure bill, which has billions dedicated to helping mitigate the power hurdles the state is facing.
Cut 7 (12) “…from power lines.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office is launching its own investigation into the deaths of several nursing home residents who were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish that was not equipped to house over 800 residents. Landry says he wants to know the facts that led to these deaths

Cut 12 (07) “…the movement”  

The state health department reports six nursing home residents evacuated to the Tangipahoa facility have died The Advocate reports LDH approved the warehouse as an evacuation site, but a spokesperson for the state’s health agency says the plan was not executed properly.

After the President’s visit to Louisiana to tour devastation left in the path of Hurricane Ida, Senator Bill Cassidy says Biden has pledged assistance to both southeast and southwest Louisiana.

Cut 6 (09) “…to both.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is putting out a call for volunteers or donations to assist with storm recovery efforts related to Hurricane Ida.  Nungesser says volunteers will be needed for an extensive period of time and people can find volunteer opportunities at volunteerlouisiana.gov/disaster-services

Cut 4 (09) “…kind of service”

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state has supported southwest Louisiana as much as fiscally possible but the bulk of the funding the area desperately needs for permanent housing must be approved by Congress

Cut 11 (08) “…southwest Louisiana.”

Ida is now the fifth hurricane to impact the Bayou State during the pandemic and the fifth most powerful hurricane to hit the U-S.

If you want to donate money or volunteer to help in the Hurricane Ida recovery go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. Dave Brannen has more…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

For FEMA assistance call 1-800-621-3362 or visit DisasterAssistance.gov. The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed another Ida-related death bringing the storm’s death toll to 13. A 74-year-old man in New Orleans died as a result of the heat

Senator Bill Cassidy says has talked with former New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond, who works with the Biden Administration. Cassidy says their meeting left him hopeful the current administration will assist with the recovery.

Cut 8 (12) “…say that.”

Last January, Louisiana requested $3 billion to address unmet recovery needs after Hurricane Laura.

Hurricane Ida not only jolted southeast Louisiana, but its journey north has also claimed over 45 lives in the Northeast.  With national attention on the hurricane, Governor John Bel Edwards hopes it will rally Congress to approve funding for both areas of the state.

Cut 10 (10) “…in Congress.” 

The Louisiana Health Department says the operator of the nursing home homes that evacuated over 800 patients to a warehouse in Tangiaphoa Parish failed to communicate with the state about the dire situation and failed to ask for help. Attorney General Jeff Landry is also pointing the finger at the Edwards Administration. Landry says his Medicaid Fraud Unit was never notified…
cut 14 (12) “…nursing home Patients”
Six nursing home residents evacuated to that facility in Tangipahoa Parish have died.

Financial resources are needed to help out people suffering as a result of Hurricane Ida’s devastation. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says you can provide donations at volunteer-louisiana-dot-gov-back-slash-donate…
cut 5 (11) “…those people out”
While much of the nation’s focus is on recovery for southeast Louisiana, Governor Edwards keeps reminding others of the dire needs of southwest Louisiana also…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Forecasters are monitoring a tropical disturbance just west of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, but the National Hurricane Center is giving the tropical wave a low chance of developing into a tropical depression over the next five days. A cold front that will drop our humidity levels this week will push the system towards Florida.

While southeast Louisiana is in dire need of power, fuel, and housing for displaced residents, it’s been over a year for southwest Louisiana residents who still need permanent housing after hurricanes Laura and Delta. Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s disappointing…
Cut 9 (09) “…we need.”
Senator Bill Cassidy says President Biden told him he’s committed to providing home repair dollars for Hurricane Laura and Delta victims in the next federal spending bill that needs to be approved by October 1st.

Cassidy says he also spoke with Biden about the proposed infrastructure bill, which has billions dedicated to helping mitigate the power hurdles the state is facing.
Cut 7 (12) “..from power lines.”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office is launching an investigation into the evacuation of hundreds of nursing home residents from seven different facilities to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish that was not equipped to house over 800 patients. The Advocate newspaper reports the Louisiana Department of Health approved the evacuation plan but the nursing home owner Bob Dean did not execute the plan properly. Landry says he has to find out more…
cut 13 (15) “…deaths occur”

If you want to donate money towards the Hurricane Ida response or volunteer, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov…
cut 3 (11) “…through this time”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office is launching its own investigation into the deaths of several nursing home residents who were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish that was not equipped to house over 800 residents. Landry says he wants to know the facts that led to these deaths
Cut 12 (07) “…the movement”
The Advocate reports LDH approved the warehouse as an evacuation site, but a spokesperson for the state’s health agency says the plan was not executed properly.

During President Biden’s tour of Hurricane Ida’s destruction. Senator Bill Cassidy reminded the President there are still residents struggling with home repair needs in southwest Louisiana after last year’s hurricanes…
cut 6 (09) “…both”

If you want to donate money or volunteer to help in the Hurricane Ida recovery go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. Dave Brannen has more…
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed another Ida-related death bringing the storm’s death toll to 13. A 74-year-old man in New Orleans died as a result of the heat.

According to the Louisiana Public Service Commission, over a half a million customers are still without power.

President Joe Biden got a first-hand look yesterday at the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ida. The President met with storm victims in LaPlace as he walked a neighborhood that’s been severely impacted. Mr. Biden says he knows people are hurting and the federal government is here to help and has already distributed 100-million dollars directly to individuals…
cut 27 (27) “…stay at home”
In order to take advantage of this assistance, storm victims need to register with FEMA at disaster-assistance dot-gov or call 1-800-621 FEMA.

If you want to donate money or volunteer to help in the Hurricane Ida recovery go to volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. Dave Brannen has more…
cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

It’s the opening weekend of the college football season and thousands of Tiger fans are in Los Angeles to see the Fighting Tigers play UCLA in the historic Rose Bowl. There’s also a large group of Cajun fans in Austin, Texas to see U-L Lafayette take on Texas in a matchup of two teams ranked in the top 25.

President Biden told residents in LaPlace he knows they are hurting as he walked in a neighborhood yesterday that sustained significant damage from Hurricane Ida. The President also promised the federal government will help to get Louisiana back on its feet. He also wants to see the state build back better and the infrastructure bill waiting to be debated in the U-S House can help…
cut 10 (10) “….better way”
The President talked about having powerlines underground to avoid the wind damage from a hurricane.

Evacuees who are staying at a hotel can have their lodging expenses paid for through a program called Transitional Sheltering Assistance. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer those eligible need to register with FEMA and find their own hotel room at a participating hotel…
cut 7 (10) “….hotel room”

One of the major issues in this first week of recovery from Hurricane Ida is the lack of fuel and long lines at gas stations that have gasoline. Kevin Gallagher has more on what’s behind the shortage…
voicer  1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office has charged a 20-year-old New Orleans man with murder for fatally shooting a 36-year-old man at a gas station over an argument that broke out while they were waiting in line for gasoline . The deadly shooting occurred on Clearview Parkway in Metairie. Sheriff Joe Lopinto told WWL radio that nobody should lose a life over gasoline.