Sixteen years to the day of one of the biggest natural disasters in U.S. history, another powerful tropical cyclone tore through the Gulf region.
Hurricane Ida tore through the Gulf as it reached the coasts of Louisiana and Mississippi, packing Category 4 150 mph sustained winds, just short of Category 5 strength. The punishing winds, gusts, pouring rain, flooding and storm surge decimated the two states, with Ida keeping hurricane strength up to eight hours after making landfall. Homes and other buildings were destroyed, trees uprooted, cars and anything not bolted down overturned, levees overwhelmed, and power lines obliterated. Most – if not, all – of Louisiana is without power. Meanwhile, nearly all of these conditions exist in Mississippi as well, with over 113,000 without power. The fatality count is expected to rise to a heartbreaking level.
“Thanks to the (FEMA) Administrator’s leadership and the hard work of the FEMA team – all of whom are gathered behind me – many of whom are gathered behind me – we’ve already pre-positioned resources that we know are going to be needed, and equipment, and response teams in the region,” said President Biden at an Aug. 30 press conference.
“This includes 2.5 million meals and 3 million liters of water. We’ve got generators in place, and we’re in close touch with the power providers to get and restore power as soon as possible because a lot of it – a lot of it’s going to go out. And we should be prepared that it can take a long time, no matter how much we’ve pre-positioned – which we have – that it’s going to take a long time for a lot of it to get back up. It could take a matter of weeks for some places.
“We’ve got 13 Urban Search and Rescue Teams – for those of you who aren’t familiar with that, they’re – these teams make up about 70 people and experts – each of these teams – and they can do real, serious recovery work.
“More than 100 ambulances and emergency medical teams have been activated. And we’re working with the Red Cross and local partners to open dozens and dozens of shelters with cots and blankets and meals to support those we need to evacuate. That will happen mostly in the northern part of the state and maybe in parts of Mississippi.
“And I’ve already signed an emergency declaration for both Louisiana as well as Mississippi. And I want to make sure that we’re ready to surge all the response capacity capability that we have to deal with whatever comes next. And a lot’s going to be coming.
“I’ve been in touch with the governors of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. And my team at the White House has been in touch with other state, local, and federal officials in the region. And they know – they know there will be the full resources and support of the federal government.”
The power and timing of Ida echoed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Aug. 29, the same day that Katrina hit in 2005. Katrina caused over $125 billion in damages and claimed more than 1,800 lives.
Ida is expected to steer through to the Eastern Seaboard, possibly dumping up to six inches of rain on an area that has seen a higher than normal rainfall this month.
