Ida is now a Category One hurricane as it moves toward the western tip of Cuba and on into the Gulf. The storm is expected to grow to Category 3 or perhaps higher before a Sunday landfall. National Weather Service forecaster Jared Klein says it’s too early to know where the heaviest rain will fall, but know the system has the potential to drop up to 20 inches in some areas…:
CUT 09 (05) “…Monday”
He says to be wary of potential flash flooding as Ida comes ashore Sunday.

Governor Edwards says he is requesting a federal Declaration of Emergency for Louisiana ahead of Ida’s landfall. Mr Edwards formally declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Ida yesterday afternoon. Ida is expected to make landfall late Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Utility providers are preparing for Hurricane Ida’s arrival Sunday, with the intent being to restore lost power as safely and quickly as possible. Entergy Louisiana VP John Hawkins Jr says their crews are on standby and they have called on extra contractors to assist in Ida’s wake…:
CUT 12 (09) “…this storm”

Ida’s winds may not only threaten homes and businesses; farmland could also be significantly damaged. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says caner farmers are especially concerned with Ida’s track…:
CUT 15 (07) “…target zone”
Rippey says rice harvest is just getting underway, so that’s another concern.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging Louisiana residents to get their preparations done before Ida’s arrival. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Forecasters warn conditions in the Gulf are ripe for Hurricane Ida to rapidly develop into a major hurricane. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (27)…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to hit category four.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says all the ingredients are there for rapid strengthening once it enters the Gulf later tonight.

Cut 3 (10) “…Louisiana” 

Keim says sea surface temperatures out in the Gulf are just boiling hot right giving Ida plenty of fuel to feast on.

Cut 4 (08) “…storm.” 

The hope is Ida fizzles out as it approaches the coast but Keim says right now the trend is in the opposite direction…

Cut 5 (10) “…advisories.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says get all of your hurricane preparations done today and tomorrow

Cut 6 (12) “…to make.” 

Steele says also prepare for multiple days without power, especially if you live in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 7 (09) “..now”  

There’s a possibility Ida could be as strong as a Category Four storm when it makes landfall in Terrebonne Parish on Sunday night. Steele says Ida will pose a major threat well inland as it moves through Sunday night into Monday morning…

Cut 8 (08) “…power lines come down”

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The National Weather Service projects eight to twelve inches of rain will fall across Southeast Louisiana on Sunday and Monday as Ida approaches and then makes landfall.

NWS New Orleans forecaster Jared Klein says it’s too early to know where the worst rain will fall but we know this system has the potential to drop up to 20 inches of rain in isolated areas.

Cut 9 (05) “…Monday”

Klein warns residents to be wary of flash floods as heavy rains soak already saturated ground.

Cut 10 (09) “…vulnerable”

Peak storm surge projections call for seven to 11 feet from Lafourche Parish to St. Bernard Parish.

Cut  11 (11) “…coast”  

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Utility providers are prepping for Ida’s arrival on Sunday and in an effort to restore power as safely and quickly as possible if needed. Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Junior says their crews are on standby and they’ve called on extra contractors to assist.

Cut 12 (09) “…this storm.” 

Residents should be prepared for the possibility of lengthy outages due to the expected intensity of Ida. Hawkins says personnel is going through their pre-storm checklists and making sure that additional supplies, including poles, transformers, and other equipment, are on hand.

Cut 13 (07) “…safely.”

Hawkins encourages Entergy customers if they aren’t signed up already to download the Entergy app on their smartphone and or sign up on their website for notifications in advance, for updates on restoration efforts.

Cut 14 (09) “..their outage”

Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana will also provide storm restoration updates through their Facebook and Twitter pages.

CLECO reports that they have also secured additional crews in anticipation of Ida.

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Ida’s damaging hurricane-force winds not only threaten homes and businesses, farmland could also see significant damages. U-S-D-A meteorologist Brad Rippey says sugarcane farmers are keeping a close eye on Ida’s forecasted track…

Cut 15 (07) “…target zone” 

Once Ida makes landfall, it’s expected to head northwest. Rippey says in the Mississippi Delta the rice harvest is just getting underway…

Cut 16 (14) “…days.” 

Ida is now a Category 1 hurricane, and is expected to gain in strength as it crosses the Gulf on a bead for the Louisiana coast. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness urges residents to get storm preparations done before an expected Sunday landfall. Jeff Palermo has more…:
CUT 01 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
New Orleans is bracing for a serious hit from Ida. Mayor Latoya Cantrell has called a voluntary evacuation for areas inside the city’s levee systems. She’s also ordered mandatory evacuations for low-lying areas OUTSIDE the levees.

Hurricane Ida is expected to reach Category 3 strength or perhaps even higher before landfall sometime late Sunday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says all the ingredients are there for rapid escalation once it enters the Gulf later tonight…:

CUT 3 (10) “…Louisiana”
Keim says there is some hope Ida MAY fizzle out a bit as it approaches the coast, but the atmospheric indicators say just the opposite.
Ida’s effects are expected to be felt in Northern Louisiana after making landfall; bringing heavy rains and tropical storm force winds. Schools and businesses in cities along the I-20 are deciding on possible cancelations for Monday, so listen for more announcements.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell ordered mandatory evacuations for residents in low-lying areas outside of the city’s levee system. Cantrell says those needing to evacuate should do so immediately as storm conditions should reach the city late Saturday. Residents inside the city’s levee system are under voluntary evacuations in preparation for Ida.

Forecasters warn conditions in the Gulf are ripe for Hurricane Ida to rapidly develop into a major hurricane. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (27)…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says get all of your hurricane preparations done today and tomorrow. Steele says Ida will pose a major threat well inland as it moves through Sunday night into Monday morning…

Cut 8 (08) “…power lines come down”

Utility providers are prepping for Ida’s arrival on Sunday and in an effort to restore power as safely and quickly as possible if needed. Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Jr says personnel is going through their pre-storm checklists and making sure that additional supplies, including poles, transformers, and other equipment, are on hand.

Cut 13 (07) “…safely.”

Residents should be prepared for the possibility of lengthy outages due to the expected intensity of Ida.

Now Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to hit category four. The hope is that Ida fizzles out as it approaches the coast, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says right now the trend is in the opposite direction…

Cut 5 (10) “…advisories.”

Utility providers are prepping for Ida’s arrival on Sunday and in an effort to restore power as safely and quickly as possible if needed. Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Junior says their crews are on standby and they’ve called on extra contractors to assist.

Cut 12 (09) “…this storm.” 

The National Hurricane Center says Ida has reached hurricane status.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging Louisiana residents to get their preparations done before Ida’s arrival. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The state reports 3,428 new COVID-19 cases today and 61 new fatalities. Hospitalizations have decline, by 45 from the previous day now at 2,684. Hospitalizations are down 315 over the last week.

Soon-to-be Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to be a category four. State Climatologist Barry Keim says all the ingredients are there for rapid strengthening once it enters the Gulf later tonight.

Cut 3 (10) “…Louisiana” 

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says to be prepared for multiple days without power, especially if you live in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 7 (09) “..now”  

The governor will hold a 3:30 press conference this afternoon.

As Louisianans prep for Ida’s arrival, it was a year ago today when Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana but says it’s members of the community that have kept each other going.

Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”  

A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana and could reach almost Category 4 status.  The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida most likely make landfall near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…

Cut 14 (10) “…come through it, always.”

Tropical Storm Ida is almost at hurricane status now with winds at 65 miles per hour and the latest track shows Ida reaching Terrebonne Parish on Sunday night as a category three hurricane. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service says we should be prepared for several bands of rain…

Cut 5 (13) “…surge.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says get all of your hurricane preparations done today and tomorrow

Cut 6 (12) “…to make.” 

Steele says also prepare for multiple days without power.

Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday night. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions, and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.

Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says they’ll be visiting Children’s Hospital with Governor Edwards and other State Department of Health staff.

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week but still about 700 higher than at any point in the previous three waves.

A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida will be a major hurricane when it makes landfall, most likely near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…
cut 14 (10) “…come through it always”
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura which tore through southwest Louisiana with 100-mile per hour winds. Many residents are still hoping for more federal assistance to rebuild their homes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter keeps asking…
cut 11 (07) “…continue”
Governor Edwards says there are three billion dollars in unmet needs.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond has resigned. Mayor Adrian Perkins asked Raymond to step down nearly three months ago. The mayor says the city is experiencing an inexcusable surge of violent crime and the police department needs change. Raymond says a shortage in public safety personnel has led to historical increases in homicides for many cities.

Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs of strengthening as it moves northwest at 15 miles per hour. It’s currently located south of Western Cuba and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along the Louisiana coast. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service in New Orleans…
cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening”
A landfall near Lafourche-Terrebonne Parish is most likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Brennan Matherne, says if this current track holds, he expects evacuation orders will go out today…
cut 15 (05) “….Fourchon”
Governor Edwards has declared a state emergency. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging all Louisianans to plan accordingly.

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s landfall in Cameron Parish. Laura came ashore with 150 mile per hour winds and left behind an estimated 17.5 billion dollars in damage in Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana, but he says the city’s residents have kept each other going.
Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”
Hunter is upset the federal government has yet approve millions of dollars in grant money that can help hurricane victims rebuild.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration…
Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”
2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ida is strengthing over the northwest Caribbean Sea and Ida is forecast to be a Category 3, major hurricane at landfall on Sunday. A landfall near Terrebonne-Lafourche Parishes seems most likely at this point. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service…
cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening”

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s devastating landfall in southwest Louisiana. That region also experienced Hurricane Delta, a winter storm in February and more flooding in May. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they are still waiting on the federal government to provide assistance to rebuild homes…
cut 10 (12) “…rebuild”

According to the National Hurricane Center’s official forecast track the eye of Ida could pass right over or very close to Morgan City. Matt Doyle says the coastal city in St. Mary Parish is ready…
cut 3 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Ida is expected to enter the Southeastern Gulf tonight or early Saturday and reach major hurricane status right before it makes landfall on Sunday. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for coastal Louisiana. Forecasters are expecting storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall.