NEW ORLEANS — Most of southeast Louisiana remains in darkness Tuesday after Hurricane Ida's, Category 4, 150 mph winds came ashore between Grand Isle and Port Fourchon midday Sunday.
We will be updating the latest information on this blog story during the day.
WWL-TV will be on the air from 4:30 am until 9 a.m., at Noon, from 4 pm until 5:30 pm; 6-7 pm and from 10-10:35 pm. We will also be breaking in to programming on occasion with major updates.
Hurricane Ida Aftermath Updates
10:30 PM
An off-duty NOPD officer was shot on I-10 in New Orleans during the city's first night under curfew after Hurricane Ida.
8:45 PM
Road closures:
LA 18 (River Rd) is not passable from St. John parish line to Hahnville due to downed powerlines.
8:30 PM
NOLA Ready: Resources Wednesday
- 8 cooling and charging centers (8 AM-6 PM)
- 2 drive-thrus with MRE's and water (8 am-6 pm)
- 8 meal sites (4 pm-6 pm)
8:20 PM
Road closure:
LA 18 (River Rd) is not passable from Sugarhouse Rd to Barton Rd due to downed powerlines. Barton Rd is passable.
7:00 PM
Jefferson Parish
- Jefferson Parish President gives an update on the aftermath and recovery efforts of Hurricane Ida.
- Unfortunately, the isle is uninhabitable, there is three feet of sand across the islands a result of 10-12 breaks in the levee on the gulf side. 100 percent of the structures ar damaged. 40 percent of the structures are completely destroyed or just a wall left.
- There are no means of communication on the island.
- A strong odor of natural is present on the island
- The concentration is on search and rescue in Lafitte. the water went down significantly. the next step needed is to dewater the community.
- There is a curfew in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. through the weekend
- Still asking residents to evacuate even after the storm because there is no power and no gas in the city. These are not conditions to be living in.
- I-10 was open to leaving the city
- Call 504-349-5360 to get transportation to Pard Park of you need transportation to the shelter.
- Trash pickup will resume Monday, September 6 but it will be limited due to road access. Curbside recycling is suspended.
- Fema has started the individual assistance program
- Entergy - 3 general buckets to look at:
"Generation- power plants, there are no constraints with power plant capacity. The next step is transmission lines is the high voltages we have damages on. Thousands of poles are down.
- Just because the transmission is down doesn't mean that the area has to wait for that to be rebuilt to obtain power.
- Able to get first light by midnight Wednesday.
- Orleans is where Entergy will start restoration efforts.
- As of Tuesday 70 locations were isolated where there ewer water breaks. completed repairs on 17 of them. were able to pump pressure of 22 psi typically is 60-75 psi.
- Westbank there were fewer breaks and remain 40 psi in the system. Three generators run the system but one spiked and caused an outage to all three. The generation was replaced. Try to conserve water. Portable pumps- there are 18 out of 270 operational in the Eastbank and 13 of 207 on the Westbank. 200 tanker trucks to empty them. 40 additional pumps to install.
- Health care facilities: Several living facilities were evacuated with some residents going to Texas and others to Mississippi. Residents in living facilities in Metairie went to Alexandria. Evacuated 71 went to Pard Park. 911 is getting very busy. Oxygen distribution has been at fire station 20 in Metairie and at fire station 81 in Harvey but they are out of oxygen tanks have been for a day but more are coming.
- Grand Isle- 40-50 percent of the houses are gone. three feet of sand on the roads. Power poles on the road.
- Check your attics for any wetness or water from the storm.
6:30 PM
All intersection lights are out. Treat unlit intersections as a 4-way stop.
6:25 PM
Tulane University students have arrived in Houston and are checking into their hotels
6:15 PM
MSY is advising those that parked in the garage during Hurricane Ida to contact New South Parking at (504) 471-1301 for more information.
5:50 PM
RTA has cooling buses at food distribution sites.
5:30 PM
Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller has issued a burn ban across the parish effective Aug. 31
Miller said the burn ban was necessary because of a number of contributing factors, including low water pressure in several portions of the parish.
5:10 PM
Text "OPEN' to 529-4444 to get a list of places that are open across the cities such as stores.
5:00 PM
- Residents who have registered with FEMA cans tart to see disbursement into checking accounts starting Wednesday.
- FEMA 1800 6213362 is the first step to connect to assistance from the government and you will get a FEMA ID and you will be in the position to get any resources from FEMA.
4:55 PM
The city of New Orleans enforces a curfew for the city starting Tuesday from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
4:45 PM
Road closures:
LA 428 (General DeGaulle Dr) underpass at US 90 B is not passable due to high water.
4:30 PM
The National Weather Service has officially dropped canceled the Flash Flood Warning early.
4:20 PM
Live aerial view of Hurricane Ida's aftermath.
4:10 PM
Police in New Orleans are investigating a traffic fatality in the 2500 block of Elysian Fields Avenue. One person died at the scene, police say.
No additional information on the fatality is available, but officials have asked everybody to stay off the roads because of hazardous conditions.
4 PM
Entergy says they are working to get 10 emergency generators to the Sewerage & Water Board and one to the Convention Center shelter in New Orleans.
S&WB needs the generators because their power situation is in a delicate state, with sewer pumps almost entirely down while the city is out of power. Sewer backups into people's homes are possible throughout the city.
There is also the question of powering the city's drainage pumps, which have luckily stood up against the storm using power generated from the city's antiquated turbine system despite losing the extra electricity from Entergy when the storm hit.
3:50 PM
The Louisiana National Guard has rescued more than 350 people since Hurricane Ida swept through the state. That number is likely to rise as they get to more areas hit by the storm.
3:35 PM
St. Tammany Parish officials say they expect their damage assessment in the parish to be 75% completed by Friday. Actual recovery efforts after that assessment are expected to be a multi-week process.
Power restoration will be especially difficult because much of the physical infrastructure that needs to be repaired runs over flooded marshes and hard-to-reach areas damaged by the storm.
3:25 PM
Need some food? Head down to Howlin' Wolf, where they're trying to cook up ande distribute all their food before it goes bad in the freezer.
3:15 PM
JPSO is now turning around drivers trying to get to the airport. No flights are going out of MSY today, and most have been canceled for tomorrow as well.
Airport officials hope to resume normal operations later this week.
3:10 PM
Gov. John Bel Edwards continues to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Ida, which has devastated much of the coastal parishes.
3:05 PM
All highways in Louisiana are now open. Despite this, emergency officials are asking people to stay off the road if at all possible, because if roads become clogged then first responders will have a harder time getting to emergency situations.
3 PM
Regular trash pickup is scheduled to resume tomorrow in Jefferson Parish. Debris pickup is still being planned out, but will begin soon. Residents are being told to put debris out on the curb to await removal.
2:50 PM
A flash flood warning has been issued for Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Charles parishes until 6 p.m.
The warning is because of heavy rain from feeder bands on the back end of Hurricane Ida, which is now a tropical depression north of Louisiana.
2:45 PM
In Grand Isle, the burrito levee system put in place to prevent the worst from a storm like Hurricane Ida appears to have collapsed and failed entirely in the face of the storm.
Storm surge was able to get right up to the town despite the system of barriers in place along the edge of the island.
2:30 PM
Several blue tarp pickup locations have been set up at Walmart stores throughout Tangipahoa Parish for residents who need them to cover up damaged parts of their houses.
2:15 PM
Houston city officials say they are working with Kroeger, Gallery Furniture (off I-45) and the National Association of Christian Churches to support Louisiana.
Kroeger is asking customers to donate food/water which will be shipped to New Orleans
Gallery Furniture is offering shelter to anyone who needs it.
The National Association of Christian Curches is also offering shelter, food, showers, personal hygiene. Last night they had 120 people sheltering with them. They can be called at 832-626-7111
2 PM
Terrebonne Parish officials say people returning to survey the damage after Hurricane Ida are causing dangerous situations for emergency responders.
Traffic lights are out, and more people in town means resources are being tied up. Parish officials say there's simply not enough manpower in the parish to respond to all the needs.
An officer was involved in a bad car accident while responded to a call of looting. That officer was dug out of his patrol unit and taken to a hospital in New Orleans.
1:45 PM
Patients running low on oxygen or in need of dialysis have some resources available to them in the metro New Orleans area. Here's the latest:
· Patients in need of oxygen support due to electricity issues should call 211 to find a nearby location
· They should not go to the ER unless they are seeking emergency medical care
· Patients on dialysis (Nola area) should use the resource below from the health dept
OXYGEN LOCATIONS
Orleans Parish:
- New Orleans Fire Station 1
2920 Magazine St
Hours: 8 am – 6 pm
- New Orleans Fire Station 36
5403 Read Blvd
Hours: 8 am – 6 pm
- New Orleans Fire Station 6
4500 Gentilly Rd
Hours: 8 am – 6 pm
- New Orleans Fire Station 40
2500 General de Gaulle Dr
Hours: 8 am – 6 pm
Jefferson Parish:
- Johnny Jacobs Playground in Marrero
5851 5th Ave
Marrero, LA 70072
- Cleary Playground
3700 Civic St.
Metairie, LA 70001
1:40 PM
We're starting to get our first look at Terrebonne Parish, and damage appears to be severe in that area.
1:05 PM
We are answering questions from evacuees about the state of the situation in Southeast Louisiana. Tune in for our live Q&A here:
1 PM
Entergy has reportedly told New Orleans city councilmembers that some electricity could come back to the city as early as tomorrow, but didn't specify how that would happen with all eight transmission lines into the city down.
Even if some power does come back to the city, it will likely not mean homes will be restored. The first lines will be directed to critical infrastructure such as hospitals.
For more info on what we know about power in the city, click here:
12:40 PM
Garbage collection in the city of Kenner has been suspended indefinitely. City officials say the landfill used by trash collection crews was significantly damaged by Hurricane Ida, meaning it cannot be used.
Residents are being told to continue putting tree limbs and debris out on the curb, but are being asked to avoid putting household garbage on the curb.
12:30 PM
Mayor Cantrell says the city has shifted from a plan to evacuate to a plan based around most people still in the city sheltering in place for the time being until power gets restored.
In the meantime, the city has implemented an "anti-looting" plan across the city and promises to arrest and prosecute anybody caught breaking in or stealing.
12:20 PM
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces that I-10 eastbound is open from the Texas state line to the Mississippi state line. Please keep the eastbound lanes clear, especially between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, for the response efforts to Hurricane Ida.
I-10 westbound between Gramercy and Prairieville remains closed as DOTD continues removing debris from the storm.
12:15 PM
FEMA officials say 113,000 households have applied for federal assistance after Hurricane Ida. The vast majority of those are in Orleans Parish.
Here's how to sign up:
12:10 PM
A massive line has formed for supplies, including ice, being distributed in Algiers.
It's uncertain if there are enough resources for all of the people in line for them.
Noon
Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the city is setting up charging and cooling centers at the NORDC Rec Centers around the city and at mobile stations on RTA buses.
One of the cooling and charging stations will be at Rosenwall rec center, which will also have a food distribution center operated by the World Central Kitchen. It is open now.
11:50 AM
Here is a list of places the city of New Orleans is using to distribute free meals today.
11:20 AM
Gov. John Bel Edwards urges residents who have evacuated to not return. Businesses, schools and just about everything else in much of the state remains closed and without power.
"Now is really the most dangerous time," the governor said of the next few days, citing the 100+ degree heat.
11 AM
All Loyola classes are canceled next week. Virtual classes will begin on Monday, Sept. 13.
For our list of current school closures and reopening plans, click here:
RELATED: List: School closures
10: 45 AM
St. Tammany firefighters are starting to get 911 calls from residents who need electricity to run medical equipment such as oxygen concentrators. Some people's oxygen tanks are also beginning to run out.
The parish does not have any centers to swap out oxygen tanks, and is instead urging all residents with oxygen-based medical needs to go to Creekside Jr. High, which is being set up as a dedicated shelter for them.
Creekside Jr. High is located at 65434 Hwy 41, Pearl River, LA 70452.
10:25 AM
The fire at New Orleans city hall was in the data center third floor. Apparently, people have been allowed to return to the building.
10:23 AM Saints head coach Sean Payton says the team is planning to be outside of New Orleans for a month per Nick Underhill. He said they can always roll that back. Payton told Nick Underhill that the home game against Green Bay may well be in Dallas.
10:07 AM
9:55 AM
Lafourche Parish residents are being told they can return home at noon today. A nightly curfew will be in effect until further notice, from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night.
9:50 AM
Several dialysis centers in New Orleans are expected to be open today, parish officials say.
Patients should confirm their dialysis center is still open before leaving for any scheduled appointment.
9:45 AM
St. Bernard Parish officials say they are delivering ice to several businesses in the parish for residents who need them.
The current distribution plan is for ice to be delivered to Meraux Quick Stop, Nicosia’s, South Lake, Amin’s, and Shell on Paris Rd.
9:25 AM
- Surveyed the area by helicopter on Monday
- Nearly every structure in St. Charles Parish has some sort of damage
- Damage ranges from minor shingles to entire roofs blown off or complete home collapse
- Still standing water in Norco and Montz communities
- Pumps are working. They are getting more pumps online to pump water out more quickly
- Main priority is getting water restored to east bank customers and getting water out of homes
- It’s hard to know exactly how many people took on water. Dozens of homes in Norco area that took on water expected
- Power is expected to be out in several weeks
- “If someone told me they could get the power back on in one month, I would say 'man, that’s a miracle'”
- Not sure how many people left during the hurricane, would estimate a little more than 50% stayed
- “They’re certainly welcome to come back home, but we’re asking residents to staff off our roads” and focus on their properties
- Experienced “catastrophic failure” of intake structure when barge crashed into it.
- Numerous leaks in water system
- Boil water order in effect parish-wide until further notice
- Some people went to hospital for medical emergencies, but no fatalities or injuries directly related to storm
- “The word I would describe how I’m feeling right now is heartbroken, to be able to see all the damage across the parish and to be able to see all the communities that have received flooding.”
- Still watching to make sure storm water doesn’t “inundate us on the back end”
- Asks residents to be patient as parish officials work to get resources from state and federal government to get resources to help
9:20 AM
Nine people in St. Tammany were hospitalized overnight with carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator being used in a garage.
A growing number of generator-related injuries have been reported across Southeast Louisiana as residents spend their first few days without power.
Read more here:
9:15 AM
If you haven't cleaned out your fridge yet, NOW is the time to do it. The day is expected to get hotter, and nobody's fridge or freezer can keep things cold for much longer.
If you're watching somebody's house for them while they are evacuated, do the same for theirs. They will be absolutely disgusting if opened after they return.
9:05 AM
WWL-TV is keeping an updated list of businesses open in New Orleans. To submit one you don't see on the list, email webteam@wwltv.com or reply to our post about the list on Facebook. You can also tweet using the hashtag #OpenNOLA.
Here's the list, with everything we have currently been told is open:
RELATED: #OpenNOLA: Here's what's open
9 AM
All Tuesday flights to or from MSY have been canceled because of damage and power outages at the airport.
Over 200 flights on Wednesday have also been canceled, but it's unclear if any will fly out from the airport by then.
8:40 AM
St. Charles Parish President Matthew Jewell says that he expects power in the parish to be out for well over a month.
Huge portions of Southeast Louisiana are still without power and will be for weeks, with extremely optimistic estimates putting restoration times for most areas at least three weeks out.
The full extent of the damage in that parish and others is still unclear because of difficult travel conditions and a lack of reliable cell phone service throughout the area.
8:05 a.m. - Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says that crews are cutting their way through debris down LA. 1 to get to Grand Isle.
8 a.m. - Traffic Update
7:30 a.m. - Help us, help others! What businesses are open? #OpenNOLA if you know of an open business (please give us the hours) or email webteam@wwltv.com!"
7 a.m. - If you need gasoline, prepare to hunt for it and wait for it if you find it.
This is Tuesday morning at daybreak on Washington and Claiborne.
6:40 a.m. - TRAFFIC UPDATE:
- Causeway open
- Twin Spans open
- I-10 West from NO to Baton Rouge open BUT you are asked NOT to drive that way unless you absolutely have to so that emergency vehicles can utilize.
6:25 a.m. - FYI New Orleans and Baton Rouge
6:15 a.m. - More than 600 rescues so far from flooded homes. Story
5:40 a.m. - Food, water, tarps given out - phone charging station in Algiers Tuesday at 1 p.m. Here's the information
5:25 a.m. - Meteorologist Payton Malone explains why there is a heat advisory when there normally wouldn't be
5 a.m. - When will my power be on? Latest update
4:45 a.m. - Generator fire displaces two families, damages two homes in Harvey Read story
4:30 a.m. - Driving tour through parts of Jefferson and Orleans on Monday.
4:15 a.m. - Entergy continues to assess the extent of damage. The company says that based on historical data, the normal restoration time for a storm of Ida's magnitude is up to 3 weeks to get 90 percent of customers back. Many could have it back much sooner, but with transmission lines down, things could take longer. Entergy is looking at alternate ways to restore power.
Click for update from Entergy