With generator usage skyrocketing following the landfall of Hurricane Ida, Louisiana residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with generator safety tips. Erik Piccoli has the story.

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Governor Edwards says National Guardsmen and a 900-person task force will begin grid searches of areas with extreme damage from Ida. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The city of New Orleans is without power and water and they are set to host an NFL game in the Superdome in less than two weeks. Kevin Gallagher has more…

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Last hurricane season there were more than 25 fatalities as a result of improper generator use. Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says to be sure to read the instruction manual on your generator and always place it outside at least 20 feet from any occupied structure, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cut 4 (11) “…good enough.”

Also never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet and only use heavy-duty outdoor extension cords.

Also do not use your generator in rain or wet conditions and Rodrigue says never try to refuel your generator when it’s in operation. She says to turn it off and allow it to cool off for at least 20 minutes before refueling.

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Rodrigue also highly recommends you have a fire extinguisher on hand at any time of year and if you own a generator there’s another item you should always use in conjunction with it because it just might save your life.

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There are already comparisons between Hurricanes Ida and Katrina, two major hurricanes that struck southeast Louisiana and made landfall 16 years apart to the day. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says it would be much more efficient if campsites were pitched near heavily damaged areas to minimize commutes for workers.

Cut 7 (08) “…area.”

Nungesser says the state desperately needs to receive federal response much faster than in the past. He says it’s improper to have residents wait six to nine months for a FEMA trailer that costs $200-thousand.

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As for the long recovery ahead, Nungesser says Louisianans always help each other out and we’ll get through this as we’ve done before.

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St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says the parish is struggling with communication post Ida. Champagne says roughly 60 to 70 percent of residents evacuated the parish and he wants them to know there’s significant damage.

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Because of the widespread damage, the Parish has issued a curfew from 8 pm until 5 am. Champagne says only first responders are allowed out past curfew.  He says Ida’s wrath is the worst damage he’s ever witnessed.

Cut 11 (11) “…this parish.”

Champagne says if you evacuated the parish and want to return understand that stores and gas stations are closed so be prepared and bring plenty of food and water.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper says their parish is also having communication issues and they are unable to receive emergency calls.

Cut 12 (08) “…is down (x2).”  

Like other authorities in the southeastern parishes, Cooper is urging residents to remain sheltered in place as emergency personnel and crews work to clear roads and restore utilities.

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Governor John Bel Edwards hopes to survey damage from hurricane Ida today, he wasn’t able to Monday due to the number of air rescues needed.

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Edwards says search and rescue crews spent most of Monday answering 9-1-1 calls from Sunday night once conditions were stable enough for first responders to venture out. He says today crews should begin grid searches in areas in areas that suffered extreme damage.

Power restoration for southeast Louisiana could be lengthy and New Orleans residents have been told it could be up to 21 days before 90 percent of the metro area has power again. Edwards says well over a million customers are without power.

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Edwards encourages residents to adhere to local curfews and for those who’ve evacuated to only return when it is safe to do so.

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Edwards says so far there’s only be one confirmed storm-related death, but he expects there will be more. The governor reminded residents that more people are killed following a hurricane as opposed to during the storm and he encouraged everyone to practice extreme caution with generators and cleanup efforts.

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The Saints are holding practices at Dallas Cowboys stadium as they get ready for the regular-season opener against Green Bay on September 12th. Coach Sean Payton says they made the decision on Thursday to leave their team headquarters in Metairie after seeing that Ida was a real threat to southeast Louisiana

Cut 17 (21) “…re-location.”  

The players’ families also evacuated with the team. But some of them will find out they no longer have a job in the NFL as the Saints have to reduce their roster to 53 by 3 PM today. Payton says it’s not an ideal situation to do it this way…

Cut 18 (24)”…care of everyone.”

Payton says the plan is to practice in Dallas today and tomorrow and then give the players a few days off before they start game week preparations. The coach is not sure where they’ll be next week or if they can play in the Superdome against the Packers on September 12th…

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New Orleans residents who have evacuated the city have been asked to remain where they are if they can as Entergy is working to restore power. So far Mayor LaToya Cantrell reports only one death directly caused by the storm.

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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 and experienced Ida’s wrath for several hours. He says the eye of the storm crossed over the town of Lockport

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

Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says they are trying to respond to all the 9-1-1 calls coming in, but first responders must be safe from downed trees and power lines. Miller says some calls are from folks stranded in high water from Lake Ponchartrain storm surge…:

Cut 16 (12) “…clear us.” 

Miller says it’s safe to say the entire parish is without power.

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

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“Catastrophic” is the word local officials are using as initial damage assessments from Hurricane Ida’s landfall Sunday come in. More from Jeff Palermo…:

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So far, the death toll from Hurricane Ida is thankfully small. In New Orleans, a man reportedly drowned when he tried to drive through flash flood waters. In Ascension Parish a 60-year-old man died when a tree fell on his home. Other fatalities could turn up as first responders continue rescue and aid.

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

CUT 05            (12) “…no doubt about it”

It could three weeks or more before power is restored in the Crescent City.

Ochsner hospitals in the path of Hurricane Ida had to evacuate over 60 patients to other facilities as the Category 4 storm bore down on them Sunday. Many facilities suffered roof damage from the over-100 mile per hour winds. Ochsner Health President Warner Thomas says the evacuations and maintaining a standard of care are the result of being prepared for such dangerous situations…:

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Hurricane Ida has left the city of New Orleans battered and crippled. Mayor Latoya Cantrell says, despite that, a worst-case scenario was avoided because the cities levees held and pumps performed as expected. Cantrell says today is a day of assessment to determine what the actual impact of the storm is as city agencies make the rounds…:

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Cantrell says one person is reported dead; a motorist who reportedly drove into flash flood waters.

In the Capital region on Louisiana, a second person is listed as a victim of Hurricane Ida. A 60-year-old Prairieville man was reportedly killed when a tree fell on his home. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Coastal parishes took some of the worst damage from Hurricane Ida’s landfall Sunday. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Captain Brennan Matherne says Galiano, Lockport and other towns were badly hit, but the local levee systems held…:

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In Tangipahoa Parish, efforts are underway to clear roadways of storm debris and downed power lines so first responders can get on with rescue and victim assistance. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says residents need to be equally mindful of hazards…:

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

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In nearby Slidell, on the Northshore of Lake Ponchartrain, a resident videoed a DOLPHIN swimming in a swollen body of water within their neighborhood. Officials say it’s likely the dolphin came into town amid flood waters from storm surge.

Ochsner reports many of their facilities experienced roof damage as a result of Hurricane Ida’s strong winds. Ochsner Health President Warner Thomas says patients at Ochsner facilities in Raceland and Houma had to be transported elsewhere; a total of 65 of them. He says despite Ida’s destruction, they’ve continued to provide quality care…:

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Jefferson Parish officials say it will be at least 21 days to get power back on for 90-percent of those affected by Ida. A major transmission tower feeding electricity across the river, from Jefferson to Orleans, was knocked down and into the river last night. Jefferson Councilman Scott Walker says the coastal town of Grand Isle took the brunt of Ida’s landfall. He says before the town’s wind gauge broke, winds were recorded at 130 miles an hour…:

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Hurricane Ida’s damage is nothing short of catastrophic, as initial damage assessments come in. Jeff Palermo has more…:

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Lt. Governor Billy Nunngesser says it’s ironic the storm arrived on the anniversary of Katrina in 2005, but he has faith Louisianans will once again show their resilience…:

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Jefferson Parish officials say it’ll take at least 3 full weeks to get 90-percent of power restored. A major transmission tower was knocked over and into the Mississippi River last night. Jefferson Councilman Scott Walker says he’s been in frequent contact with Entergy…:

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Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says they are trying to respond to all the 9-1-1 calls coming in, but first responders must be safe from downed trees and power lines. Miller says some calls are from folks stranded in high water from Lake Ponchartrain storm surge…:

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He says the parish is almost completely without power.

Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the devastation he’s seen so far from Ida is comparable to Katrina, and ironically both storms came ashore on the same date just 16 years apart. Nungesser says it’s going to be a long haul for recovery. Now that winds have died down first responders like the National Guard, Wildlife and Fisheries and others are out making rescues. Nungesser says the main priority today is reaching those who are in peril.

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AT& T reports that Ida has caused major impacts and the wireless network is operating at 60-percent in Louisiana. The cellphone network also says they have significant outages in New Orleans and Baton Rouge due to power outages, flooding, and storm damage.

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.

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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

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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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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.

Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the devastation he’s seen so far from Ida is comparable to Katrina, and ironically both storms came ashore on the same date just 16 years apart. Nungesser says it’s going to be a long haul for recovery.

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Nungesser made the comments this morning on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

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

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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” 

Coastal parishes of southeast Louisiana are reporting catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ida. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Brennan Matherne says Ida was worst for Lafourche, than hurricanes Betsy, Gustav, and Katrina…

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In an effort to restore southeast Louisiana as quickly and efficiently as possible Lt Governor Billy Nungesser suggest they will assemble man camps to keep crews as close to clean up as possible, he says this is a lesson learned from the devastation in Lake Charles after workers had to commute long distances.

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Nungesser made the comments this morning on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

Governor Edwards says there will be 30-thousand linemen in the state to restore the power. He says hospitals, dialysis centers, and buildings that are considered critical will be prioritized first. Edwards says one of his biggest concerns is how many lives will they lose as a result of Ida…

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Those in Southeast Louisiana are waking up to survey damage from a 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 three weeks. State Climatologist Barry Keim…

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Ida was blamed for at least one death; In Ascension Parish, a man was hit by a falling tree on Sunday. This morning many roads are impassable in southeast Louisiana and cellphone service is unavailable in some places. Authorities in Jefferson Parish say residents could be without power for 21 days and at least five days without water. All New Orleans lost power shortly after sunset. Entergy Louisiana reports 858-thousand customers are without power.

Coastal parishes of southeast Louisiana are reporting catastrophic damage from Hurricane Ida. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Brennan Matherne says the good news is that their levee systems held up to the storm.

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For those looking for a shelter, can call 2-1-1 or text l-a shelter to 898 211. Governor John Bel Edwards says they have sheltered 15-hundred evacuees, but more will be needed, and they have a large space to do so, because of COVID…

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The governor has activated the entire Louisiana National Guard, which means 49-hundred soldiers responding to this disaster