The reports out of Grand Isle are catastrophic. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says she’s received dismal news from site visits of the barrier island, which was the state’s only habitable barrier island.

Cut 3 (13) “…are damaged.”

Sheng says they will be setting up a system to relay information to the residents of Grand Isle who she knows are anxious to receive word.

Fuel shortages are also a problem in Louisiana as Ida has created production and distribution issues. Congressman Garret Graves says power is not the only issue refineries are facing and it’s a topic he’s discussed with the White House…

Cut 14 (11) “…sources of energy”

Hurricane Ida has disrupted the production of oil and gas and the great demand for fuel is causing long lines around gas stations. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan, says prices could increase 5 to 15 cents over the next two weeks…

cut 5 (11) “…several weeks”
Hammond officials say the city is out of gasoline and Ascension Parish leaders are begging for fuel trucks to re-fill their gas pumps.

Louisiana has received approval from the federal government to allow food stamp recipients to purchase hot food products for immediate consumption. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard…
Cut 10 (11) “…corner store.”
Howard says waving the restriction is vital because many residents are displaced

More images and video is coming in that’s showing the widespread destruction from Hurricane Ida. Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is uninhabitable and will be that way for some time. Captain Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says every structure that he’s seen has suffered some sort of damage…
cut 8 (11) “…house to house”

Meanwhile, the Saints are looking at spending the next month of the season, possibly in Dallas, as they wait for power and other basic utility to return to the New Orleans area. Coach Sean Payton says there are a lot of pluses in being displaced in north Texas…
cut 14 (13) “…hosting us”
General Manager Mickey Loomis says an announcement could be made today on where the season opener will be played.

Gas shortages are plaguing the state and with a number of refineries not up and running after Ida, prices at the pump are expected to rise. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Officials have been concerned about generator use with so many individuals without power. New Orleans EM says seven kids and five adults were brought to the hospital after getting carbon monoxide poisoning. Heat will be an issue again today as there’s a heat advisory in effect statewide today and tomorrow.

We are getting a better idea of the extent of the damage Hurricane Ida did to southeast Louisiana. Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is uninhabitable as it is covered with three feet of sand. Congressman Garret Graves says he spent the day in LaPlace and he’s amazed by the amount of destruction…
cut 13 (12) “…of the hurricane”

Expect gasoline prices to rise over the next couple of weeks. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan says the price could go up five to 15 cents…
cut 4 (11) “…these refineries”
There’s also a shortage of gas in southeast Louisiana. Hammond officials say there is no more gas in their city and Ascension Parish leaders say they need fuel.

Entergy says 769-thousand of its customers remain without power in southeast Louisiana. But their outage map says power has returned to some portions of New Orleans east. Cleco reports says they are sending more resources to St. Tammany and Washington parishes after completing restoration efforts in Iberia and St. Mary parishes.

The Saints are planning to stay away from New Orleans for the first month of the regular season. Kevin Gallagher has the story…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Congressman Garret Graves says southeast Louisiana took a heck of a hit from Hurricane Ida. Graves’ district extends down into Thibodaux and lower Terrebonne Parish and he’s amazed by the widespread destruction the Category Four storm produced from storm surge to damaging winds…
cut 12 (14) “…and trees”
Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is uninhabitable. But over in Lafourche Parish, Captain Brennan Matherne with the sheriff’s office, says there is some good news for south Lafourche…
cut 7 (12) “..couple hundred years”
But Matherne says every single structure he’s seen in Lafourche has sustained some sort of wind damage.

Louisiana has received approval from the federal government to allow food stamp recipients to purchase hot food products for immediate consumption. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard…
Cut 10 (11) “…corner store.”
Howard says waving the restriction is vital because many residents are displaced.

Hurricane Ida has disrupted the production of oil and gas. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan, says prices could increase 5 to 15 cents over the next two weeks…
cut 5 (11) “…several weeks”
DeHaan says gas outages are also a big issue. Hammond officials say the city is out of gasoline and Ascension Parish leaders are begging for fuel trucks to re-fill their gas pumps.

Jefferson Parish officials say Grand Isle is unhabitable and it might take five years to put the island back together after Hurricane Ida completely destroyed nearly 50 percent of the structures on the state’s only inhabited barrier island.

In Lafourche Parish, Captain Brennan Matherne with the sheriff’s office says every structure in the parish has sustained some sort of damage and there are also flooding issues…
cut 9 (13) “…some how’

Meanwhile, gas prices are on the rise as Hurricane Ida has slowed production and there are also gas shortages throughout southeast Louisiana. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says he knows of one refinery that took on water…
cut 6 (10) “…longer lasting”

Louisiana has received a waiver from the federal government that allows food stamp recipients to purchase hot food products for immediate consumption. DCFS Secretary Shavana Howard says the same hot food waiver will apply once disaster food stamps are approved. She encourages residents to pre-register for disaster food stamps
cut 11 (11) “…as well”

The Saints are looking at spending the next month in the Dallas area because of Hurricane Ida devastation that has left New Orleans nearly powerless. Coach Sean Payton says they are in the same position as the city’s residents…
Cut 13 (15) “…to that yet.”
The Saints are scheduled to kick-off the regular season on September 12th against the Green Bay Packers, but that game could be played in Dallas.

The first damage assessment from Grand Isle has come in and Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says the vacation and fishing town is uninhabitable as there is three feet of sand across the entire island and 40-percent of the buildings are completely destroyed.

Significant property damage also occurred in Lafourche Parish. Erik Piccoli has more…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Erik Piccoli”

There is a glimmer of hope this morning. Power has returned to a few neighborhoods in New Orleans East.

Expect gasoline prices to rise over the next couple of weeks. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan says the price could go up five to 15 cents…
cut 4 (11) “…these refineries”
There’s also a shortage of gas in southeast Louisiana. Hammond officials say there is no more gas in their city and Ascension Parish leaders say they need fuel.

The federal government is allowing food stamp recipients in Louisiana to use their SNAP cards to purchase hot foods prepared for immediate consumption. But restaurant purchases are still prohibited. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavanna Howard says the same waiver would apply once Disaster Food Stamps are available…
cut 12 (12) “…those benefits’

Gas shortages are plaguing the state and with a number of refineries not up and running after Ida, prices at the pump are expected to rise. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

___________________________________

As residents of Lafourche Parish begin to gauge the extent of the damage left by Hurricane Ida the loss of power and cell service is hindering their efforts. Erik Piccoli has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Erik Piccoli” 

_________________________________________

The Saints are planning to stay away from New Orleans for the first month of the regular season. Kevin Gallagher has the story…

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_________________________________________

Hurricane Ida is also impacting gasoline prices and the high demand for gas is making it hard to find fuel in the Bayou State. Gas Buddy’s Senior Petroleum Analyst, Patrick DeHaan says prices could increase five to fifteen cents a gallon in Louisiana over the next week or two.

Cut 4 (11) “…some of these refineries.”

On Tuesday the City of Hammond along with and leaders in Ascension Parish made a plea for gas due to outages.

Motorists should prepare to see an increase in gas prices, but DeHaan says we shouldn’t see a massive price hike overnight.

Cut 5 (11) “…several weeks.”

DeHaan says it’s worth noting that one refinery in Louisiana was impacted by floodwaters from Ida which doesn’t bode well for gas prices.

Cut 6 (10) “…longer lasting.”

According to GasBuddy average price per gallon in Louisiana is $2.80.

_________________________________

Lafourche officials say Hurricane Ida left behind catastrophic damage in their parish. But Lafourche Parish Captain Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff ‘s Office says there is some good news in South Lafourche…

Cut 7 (12) “…couple hundred years.”

Cell service in the parish has been described as spotty from top to bottom with even police radios struggling and forcing deputies to jump from tower to tower. Matherne says the destruction left by the storm was indiscriminate…

Cut 8 (11) “…from house to house.” 

Roads extending from Thibodaux to the flood gates in Golden Meadow have been cleared but residents aren’t allowed to travel down to Grand Isle and Port Fourchon. Matherne says every structure in Lafourche Parish suffered some sort of damage…

Cut 9 (13) “…some how.”

Parish officials have announced that evacuated residents can come home, but basic utilities are not available.

_______________________

SNAP participants in Louisiana are now able to purchase hot and prepared foods due to Hurricane Ida. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard says usually food stamps cannot be used for hot food products for immediate consumption.

Cut 10 (11) “…corner store.” 

Due to the displacement of many residents in the state because of Hurricane Ida, Howard says many are unable to prepare their own food now, so the waiver has been granted. This hot food waiver will expire on September 28^th.

The same hot food waiver will apply to Disaster SNAP benefits and Howard expects D-SNAP benefits will be approved very soon for those impacted by Ida. She encourages people who live in the affected parishes to preregister.

Cut 11 (11) “…as well.”

If you are already a SNAP recipient and live in one of the 25 affect parishes, Howard says there’s no need to register for Disaster SNAP once it’s approved.

Cut 12 (12) “…those benefits.”  

The impacted parishes are 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

_______________________________________________

The Saints may spend the next month away from New Orleans because of the devastation that has occurred in that city from Hurricane Ida. Coach Sean Payton says they are in the same position as the city’s residents…

Cut 13 (15) “…to that yet.”

Payton says they may stay in Dallas, where they’ve been practicing the last two days.  He says there are a lot of pluses in being displaced in north Texas…

Cut 14 (13) “…hosting us”

The players’ families also relocated to Dallas for the time being. Payton says it’s been an interesting experience…

Cut 15 (14)“…people together.”

Payton also addressed his decision to start Jameis Winston as starting quarterback over Taysom Hill. The coach says Winston earned the job and likes his unique skill set. Payton would not say if Hill will go back to his utility role on offense, but says Taysom will help the Saints win games this year…

Cut  16 (16) “…this year (x2).”

_____________________________

ULM Football Coach Terry Bowden announces Rich Rodriguez will start at quarterback on Saturday against the Kentucky Wildcats. Bowden likes that Rodriguez will attempt to execute the plays called by his dad, offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez…

Cut 17 (23) “…from there.”  

Bowden is trying to create a winning culture at ULM after the Warhawks failed to win a game last season. They are big underdogs heading into Saturday’s game against the Wildcats. Bowden is asking his guys to play the best game they possibly can…

Cut 18 (16)”…able to do.”

This is Bowden’s first game as a head coach since 2018. He’s looking forward to it…

Cut 19 (13)  “…Akron.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards is touring Hurricane Ida storm damage today. Jeff Palermo has more from one of the governor’s stops…

Cut 2 (35)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

Ida is also responsible for an increase in demand for gasoline in Louisiana and officials in Ascension Parish made a plea for assistance in getting fuel for emergency responders. The City of Hammond says they are also out of gasoline and urge residents to stay off the road and not form lines at gas stations.

The 40 or so people who decided to ride out Hurricane Ida at Grand Isle have all been accounted for and are safe. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says she has spoken with Grand Isle Mayor David Camardelle who believes as many as 85-percent of the structures on the island sustained some sort of damage

Cut 7 (07) “…wind event”  

Sheng is advising Jefferson Parish residents who evacuated to stay away as they are without water. Parish officials are also looking to bus people out of the parish who are living without any running water or air conditioning

Much of southeast Louisiana remain without power today and with heat advisories in effect through the end of this week. State Climatologist Barry Keim recommends avoiding yard debris cleanup during the heat of the day to prevent heat stroke…

Cut 15 (09) “…smart about it.”