President Joe Biden was in Louisiana today to personally see the destruction left by Hurricane Ida. Biden took and aerial tour of southeast Louisiana parishes hit hardest by the storm. Biden says, though it will take billion to rebuild, the feds have the state’s back. He says this is why passing the proposed Infrastructure Bill is important, so the state can build back better…:

CUT 10  (10)        “…better way”

Encouraging news for residents powered by Entergy. The utility says they expect to make big progress over the weekend in restoring power; especially to customers in New Orleans. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip Mays…:

CUT 14  (11)        “…been made”

FEMA approves Transitional Sheltering Assistance for residents who evacuated for Hurricane Ida and have been staying in hotels or motels. FEMA spokesman Nate Custer says your first step to qualify for money to offset your hotel bill is to register with FEMA, by calling 800-621-3362 or go online to DisasterAssistance.gov…:

CUT 06  (12)        “transitional assistance”

The assistance is approved for evacuees who wound up most anywhere in the Gulf South.

Despite the heartache and devastation wrought by Hurricane Ida, thousands of LSU fans have left for Los Angeles to see the Fighting Tigers play UCLA in the Rose Bowl tomorrow night. Sports travel maven Jim Dumigan says he organized a charter flight to L.A. that left Thursday from Baton Rouge…:

CUT 15  (12)        “…especially one.”

Days after Hurricane Ida has moved on and we’re still seeing long lines at few stations with gas available. The primary problem is the very few stations with power ON, so they can pump gas…but many are running out. Exxon Baton Rouge spokesperson Stephanie Cargile says they have thousands of barrels of gas at their terminal. The problem is too few trucks to deliver it…:

CUT 22  (04)        “available”

Cargile says Exxon is reaching out to partners out-of-state to get more fuel trucks in to deliver the much-needed fuel.

Entergy says power should start coming back on soon for much of metro New Orleans; perhaps as soon as Wednesday. On Monday, Entergy had over 950-thousand customers without power. Today it’s below 700-k. Entergy VP of Distribution John Hawkins says the damage done to their grid is enormous…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…this storm”

President Joe Biden is in Louisiana this afternoon; surveying Hurricane Ida’s massive damage for himself. Mr. Biden says the federal government stand with Louisiana as it rebuilds..:

CUT        (09)        “gets done”

Biden says the hurricane recovery is an example of why Congress needs to pass an extensive infrastructure bill so that the state can build back better

Damage assessments from parishes like Jefferson, Lafourche and Terrebonne give testament to how powerful Hurricane Ida was. Houma state representative Tanner Magee says Terrebonne residents returning home need to steel themselves for what they’ll face…:

CUT 05  (12)        “…sweat a lot”

Ida is the 5^th strongest hurricane to ever hit the U.S.

Entergy announces preliminary times when power will be restored. Jeff Palermo shares the good news…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…I’m Jeff Palermo’

President Joe Biden is in Louisiana to personally see the destruction wrought by Hurricane Ida. Air Force One landed in New Orleans and the President is expected to head to St. John Parish and make a public statement from there sometime soon. Then he’ll do a flyover tour of areas hardest hit by the storm.

As Hurricane Ida damage assessments continue to come in, the sheer power of the storm becomes apparent. Houma area state Representative Tanner McGee says property damage in Terrebonne Parish is extensive…:

CUT 04  (09)        “…completely damaged”

Ida is the 5^th most powerful hurricane to ever hit the U.S.

FEMA approves Transitional Shelter Assistance (also called TSA) for those displaced by Hurricane Ida. Spokesman Nate Custer says evacuees need to locate their own hotel or motel, and the assistance only covers room expenses…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…so forth”

To see if you’re eligible call 800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov

President Biden has landed in New Orleans and will tour some of the hardest-hit areas of southeast Louisiana this afternoon. The President will be accompanied by Governor Edwards and some members of the state’s congressional delegation and local leaders. He is touring the area via helicopter. His first stop will be in St John the Baptist Parish.

FEMA has approved Transitional Sheltering Assistance for residents who’ve been displaced by Hurricane Ida. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer the first step to qualify for any assistance is to register with FEMA. Custer says displaced residents will have to locate their own hotel room and lodging has been extended across the deep south.

Cut 7 (10) “…hotel room.”  

You can register by calling 1-800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

The damage assessments keep coming in from Hurricane Ida, and the power of the storm is becoming clearer in descriptions such as this passed on by State Representative Tanner Magee of Houma.

Cut 3 (12) “…into the Gulf.”

Magee says the property damage in Terrebonne Parish is extensive.

Entergy believes much of metro New Orleans will see power return by Wednesday. But the utility provider says it could be much longer for restoration estimates for the River Parishes along with Terrebonne, Lafourche, and lower Jefferson Parish. Entergy’s vice president of distribution operations, John Hawkins, says the damage done to their system is enormous…

Cut 13 (12) “..this storm”

FEMA has approved Transitional Sheltering Assistance for residents who’ve been displaced by Hurricane Ida. FEMA spokesperson Nate Custer the first step to qualify for any assistance is to register with FEMA by calling 1-800-621-3362 or online at DisasterAssistance.gov.

Cut 6 (12) “… transitional assistance.” 

Entergy believes much of metro New Orleans will see power return by Wednesday. Entergy CEO Phillip May says they are still working on developing restoration estimates for the River Parishes along with Terrebonne, Lafourche, and lower Jefferson Parish

Cut 12 (10) “…coming days”  

At its peak, Entergy had 950-thousand customers without power.

An investigation is underway into the death of four nursing home residents who were transported to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish that was overcrowded with other nursing home patients. Independence Police Chief Frank Edwards says 843 patients were put in the warehouse when capacity called for up to 350. Edwards says he notified his brother, Governor John Bel Edwards…

Cut 11 (13) “…prepared facility.”
The nursing home patients sent to this warehouse in Independence came from seven southeastern Louisiana nursing homes owned by Bob Dean, who has not commented.

The state reports 2,625 new COVID-19 cases today and 51 fatalities from the virus. 2,254 patients are currently hospitalized in the state with COVID and 91-percent of those patients are unvaccinated.

If you are in need of shelter, you can call 2-1-1 or text 898-211 and type LA shelter.

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.

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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.

State investigators are looking into the deaths of four nursing home patients who were among the hundreds of nursing home residents sent to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish as Hurricane Ida was racing towards Louisiana. The warehouse had 843 patients, when capacity called for no more than 350, so it made for some difficult conditions inside. Independence Police Chief Frank Edwards says an investigation will determine why this happened, but something led to this terrible situation…
cut 21 (14) “…what they had”
Governor Edwards is calling for a full investigation.

These nursing home deaths bring the death toll from Ida in Louisiana to nine. Edwards remains concerned about heat-related death as the clean-up continues…
cut 15 (07) “..go into”

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says if your property sustained wind damage from Hurricane Ida file your claim sooner, rather than later. Donelon says the state’s Named Storm Deductible law (letting your insurer collect 2-to-5 percent of your assessed value often discourages people from filing…
Cut 4 (07) “…to ten thousand dollars”
Donelon says even if your Named Storm Deductible is higher than your assessed damage, it counts against any possible future claims this year, and can only be assessed once a year.

Entergy believes much of the New Orleans area will see power return by Wednesday. Damage assessments continue on the coast and in the immediate path of the storm, so specific restoration times are still not known for Terrebonne, Lafourche and lower Jefferson Parish. Entergy’s Deanna Lafont says Ida damaged 12-hundred poles in Lafourche…
cut 8 (11) “….people get power”