After making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Port Fourchon with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, Hurricane Ida is down to a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 miles per hour. The center of the storm is passing just east of Matthews, which is in Lafourche Parish. The state health department says there was a partial generator failure at Thibodaux Regional which forced doctors and nurses to quickly move ICU patients to another floor.

The main levee system that protects the New Orleans metro area is expected to withstand Ida’s powerful storm surge. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says 14 billion dollars in federal money went towards building this extensive levee system…
cut 15 (14) “…the area”

Governor John Bel Edwards has requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration as a result of the massive damage southeast Louisiana is experiencing from Hurricane Ida. In the meantime, Edwards has activated the entire Louisiana National Guard, which means 49-hundred soldiers are able to respond to this disaster…
cut 9 (10) “…34 helicopters”
Utility companies are anticipating a massive restoration effort that could take weeks to complete. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says there will be some real challenges….
Cut 20 (14) “…back of homes.”
And this from the National Weather Service, there’s a tornado warning until seven o’ clock for Slidell, Lacombe and Pearl River.

Hurricane Ida made landfall shortly before noon today as a Category Four hurricane near Port Fourchon. Here’s how it sounded….
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In Terrebonne, Parish President Gordon Dove describes what he’s experienced so far.
Cut 3 (08) “…flying off.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Ida is now passing just east of Houma, with maximum sustained winds of 130 miles per hour. The eye of the storm is about 40 miles southwest of New Orleans. But U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe says the 130-mile ring of levees to protect the New Orleans metro area should hold up to Ida…
cut 14 (12) “…reslilient”

The state is reporting 15-hundred people are sheltered statewide in 23 different shelters. Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says to find a shelter, dial 2-1-1 or text L-A-shelter to 898-211. Walters also encourages evacuees to check with local government officials…
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Governor John Bel Edwards some of the state’s most vulnerable residents have also been evacuated out of harm’s way….
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Ochsner says all of their hospitals and emergency departments across the region remain open and they are also fully staffed at all of their facilities.

Hurricane Ida made landfall just before noon near Port Fourchon packing maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour. Ida’s maximum sustained winds have fallen to 130 miles per hour as it moves northwestward over southeastern Louisiana. New Orleans has yet to feel the brunt of the storm, but U-S Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Matt Roe believes the 14-point-five billion-dollar levee system constructed after Katrina can withstand Ida’s intense storm surge…
cut 13 (17) “…. second line of defense”
Terrebonne Parish President Gordon Dove says the parish has a 78-mile levee system and as far as he can tell it’s holding up…
cut 5 (13) “…we’re ok”
But the property damage is expected to be intensive.

Governor Edwards says there are 15-hundred people sheltered statewide in 23 different shelters. Don Molino has info on how to find one…
cut 1 (35) “…I’m Don Molino”

Over 425-thousand Entergy customers are without power. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Freese says some customers in the hardest-hit areas could be without power for several weeks…
cut 18 (10) “…category four”

The eye of Hurricane Ida came ashore just before 12:00 today in Port Fourchon, which is the southern tip of Lafourche. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Ida was packing winds at 150 miles per hour when it made landfall…
cut 17 (16) “…island hurricane”
Grand Isle has seen its fair share of hurricanes, but police chief Scooter Resweber told NOLA-dot-com that this is the worst he’s seen. The coastal town could be experiencing a storm surge as high as 16 feet to go along with 100-mile per hour plus winds.

President Joe Biden is keeping an eye on the situation from FEMA headquarters…
cut 2 (11) “…as it takes) (2x)

Hurricane Ida is making its way through coastal southeast Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. The eye of the storm is just west of Golden Meadow in Lafourche Parish. Over in Terrebonne Parish, Parish President Gordon Dove expects wind damage to be significant and encourages residents to shelter in place and even after Ida passes…
cut 4 (13) “…passes through”
Utility companies are anticipating a massive restoration effort that could take weeks to complete. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says there will be some real challenges….
Cut 20 (14) “…back of homes.”

Hurricane Ida made landfall shortly before noon today as a Category Four hurricane near Port Fourchon, which is the southern tip of Lafourche Parish. In neighboring Terrebonne, Parish President Gordon Dove describes what he’s experienced so far.
Cut 3 (08) “…flying off.
Governor John Bel Edwards says Ida’s powerful winds and storm surge are just starting to produce damage in the coastal parishes of southeast Louisiana. But Edwards says based on modeling of Hurricane Ida, they do not anticipate overtopping of the Mississippi River levee or of the federal flood protection system in the New Orleans area…
cut 12 (13) “…through this”

Governor John Bel Edwards says there are 15-hundred people sheltered across the state in 23 different shelters. Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says the American Red Cross is working with local officials to open shelters…
cut 9 (15) “….source of information”
To find a shelter, text l-a-shelter to 898-211 or call 2-1-1.

There are nearly 300-thousand outages and that number is expected to climb significantly as Ida lashes out on Southeast Louisiana. Entergy spokesperson David Freese says once it is safe to do so power crews will begin a massive restoration effort….
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Edwards says up to 30-thousand electricity linemen will fan out in the state once Ida leaves.

Hurricane Ida made landfall near Port Fourchon at 11:55 this morning as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds at 150 miles per hour.  Present movement is northwest at 13 miles per hour. Ida is causing catastrophic storm surge, extreme winds, and flash flooding in portions of the state.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell implored residents to shelter in place.

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Ida’s 150 mile per hour landfall and Hurricane Laura last year sets a new milestone for the state with two back-to-back 150 mile per hour landfalls.

Governor Edwards will hold a 2 pm press conference for an update on Hurricane Ida.

Hurricane Ida is expected to bring anywhere from 10 to 20 inches of rain. State Climatologist Keim says in addition to the rain, storm surge is expected to be catastrophic along the coast.

cut  16 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

Entergy spokesperson David Freese says due to the projected path and intensity of hurricane Ida, customers should be prepared to be without power for several weeks as opposed to days.

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If you need shelter information call 2-1-1- or text 898-211 and enter LA Shelter.

Hurricane Ida is making landfall new Port Fourchon as an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm. She is moving northwest at 13 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds at 150 miles per hour.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell implored residents to shelter in place.

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Cantrell also urged residents to conserve water due to a power outage at Sewer Pump stations on the east and West Bank of the city, Entergy is working to restore power with emergency generators.

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The outage only increases the potential for sewer backups in homes.

Governor John Bel Edwards says Hurricane Ida could bring 110 mile per hour winds or higher from Lafayette to Mississippi and as far north as the Louisiana-Mississippi state line…

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Ida arrives in Louisiana on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Entergy spokesperson David Freese says it could take weeks instead of days to restore power after Ida. Freese says first roads will have to be cleared of trees and debris before they can enter areas with heavy damage, and they will have to use specialized vehicles to access those hard-to-reach areas.

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The Northern eyewall of Ida is moving onshore along the southeastern coast of Louisiana with catastrophic storm surge and hurricane-force winds moving onshore. Ida has maximum sustained winds at 150 miles per hour moving Northwest at 13 miles per hour. Ida is located about 60 miles southeast of Houma.

Governor John Bel Edwards says Hurricane Ida will be one for the record books. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Governor Edwards will hold a press conference at 2 pm today with an update on hurricane Ida.

Entergy spokesperson David Freese says due to the projected path and intensity of hurricane Ida, customers should be prepared to be without power for several weeks as opposed to days and the extreme restoration effort that’s expected with Ida requires specialized equipment and they’ve brought in additional crews to assist.

Cut 19 (11)  “…effort.” 

The state Department of Children and Family Services has opened shelters to house Hurricane Ida evacuees. The first shelters to open are in Shreveport in Bastrop DCFS and Secretary Marketa Garner Walters expects more shelters will open and they will follow social distancing guidelines…

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You can get shelter information by calling 2-1-1.

The eye of hurricane Ida is nearing the southeast coast of Louisiana and is extremely dangerous at a category four storm, according to the 10 am advisory from the National Hurricane Center. Ida has sustained winds at 150 mph she is located 85 miles south of New Orleans moving northwest at 13 mph.

In addition to bringing over a foot of rain, State Climatologist Keim says storm surge is expected to be catastrophic along the coast.

cut  16 (12) “…in Louisiana.”

Keim says at this point you should be sheltering in place.

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If you need shelter information call 2-1-1 or text 898 211 and enter l-a-shelter

Hurricane-force winds could be felt as far as Lafayette. Lafayette Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Craig Stansbury says they’ve been preparing for that possibility…

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Entergy spokesperson David Freese says due to the projected path and intensity of hurricane Ida, customers should be prepared to be without power for several weeks as opposed to days.

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Hurricane force wind are already being felt in portions of southeast Louisiana as the northern eyewall of Hurricane Ida approaches the Bayou State the latest advisory has Ida as a category 4 storm with sustained winds at 150 mph moving NW at 14 mph.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says in addition to high winds that will be felt even 100 miles inland, Ida will dump plenty of rain on the state.

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Ida is already one for the history books

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The state Department of Children and Family Services has opened shelters to house Hurricane Ida evacuees. The first shelters to open are in Shreveport on Jewella Avenue in the former Sam’s Club building and in Bastrop on East Madison Street. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says you can get shelter information by calling 2-1-1 or text 898 211 and enter l-a-shelter

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Ida is also expected to be responsible for massive power outages due to high winds and plenty of water, which could make restoration even more difficult. Entergy advises customers that they could be without for power for as long as three weeks.  Customers are encouraged to sign up for text notifications on Entergy’s website and download the my Entergy app on their smartphone to receive updates on restoration efforts.