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Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, on August 29, the same day Hurricane Katrina struck the area 16 years ago.

It currently has maximum sustained winds of 145 mph, making it a Category 4 hurricane. The storm surge could reach as high as 16 feet from Port Fourchon to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

“There is no doubt that the coming days and weeks are going to be extremely difficult for our state and many, many people are going to be tested in ways that we can only imagine today,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a press conference Sunday afternoon. “But I can also tell you that as a state we’ve never been more prepared.”

Ida is projected to continue inland over portions of Louisiana and western Mississippi on Monday, according to an advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Ida marks the ninth named storm of the 2021 Atlantic season and the fourth storm to develop into a hurricane. As Ida approaches the Gulf Coast, Louisiana hospitals are inundated with COVID-19 patients, with approximately 68% of state hospital beds and 84% of all ICU beds filled, according to The Daily Advertiser’s hospital capacity table.

President Joe Biden warned “the devastation is likely to be immense”

“We’re gonna put the country’s full might behind rescue and recovery,” Biden told reporters Sunday after being briefed on the storm at FEMA in Washington, DC.

“I’ve been around for a lot of hurricanes, and I don’t think we’ve ever had as much preparation,” he added.

Hurricane Ida made a second landfall in Galliano, Louisiana, at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday

The storm’s winds decreased slightly to 145 mph as it moved over land, but that still means it’s a Category 4 hurricane.

It’s moving northwest at 12 mph.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said he expected similar conditions over the next 24 hours: “Many people are going to be tested in ways that we can only imagine today”

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Louisana Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, warned people riding out the storm to remain inside in the most interior part of their home.

“If you’re in Ida’s path and you’ve not already begun to feel severe weather, we can just about absolutely assure you that you will,” Bel Edwards said.

“Quite frankly, we can’t tell you yet how soon it will be before first responders will be able to respond to calls for assistance, so please don’t go out,” he added. New Orleans EMS suspended services earlier Sunday.

Bel Edwards said residents in the path of the hurricane should prepare to shelter-in-place for the next 72 hours.

More than 350,000 people in Louisiana are now without power, according to data from Entergy

More than 350,000 people were without power in Louisiana on Sunday afternoon, just about an hour after the storm in the state, according to data from energy company Entergy Louisiana.

Power outages in the state have rapidly increased as the storm neared the coastline and eventually made landfall. The company said power outages could last as long as three weeks for some customers.

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Emergency Medical Services in the city of New Orleans were suspended indefinitely due to “dangerous winds”

“We will address calls accordingly once it is safe for our first responders,” New Orleans EMS said in a tweet.

The National Hurricane Center forecasted a storm surge as high as 16 feet – almost two stories – in some areas

The highest storm surge is expected between the mouth of the Mississippi River and Port Fourchon, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, at 11:55 am CT as a Category 4 hurricane with max sustained winds of 150 mph, the National Hurricane Center declared

The storm knocked out power at ‘several’ sewage and water pumps, which won’t be repaired until after the storm ends

More than 93,000 people in New Orleans faced a power outage early Sunday afternoon as the storm inched closer to making landfall, according to Entergy New Orleans.

Power was also knocked out at several sewage pump stations on the East and West Bank of the city, prompting a warning from the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans.

“This increases the potential for sewer backups in homes,” the SWB said. “We urge those residents who still have power to minimize wastewater leaving their homes by not running your dishwasher or washing clothes.”

The stations are expected to remain out of order until after the storm passes, SWB said.

The National Weather Service urged residents in three Louisiana towns to seek shelter due to approaching “extremely dangerous hurricane winds”

The National Weather Service issued an extreme wind warning for Houma, Bayou Cane, and Estelle, Louisiana, until 1:30 p.m. CT.

“Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!” the NWS said in a statement.

911 services in New Orleans were experiencing “technical difficulties” on Sunday as the storm approached Louisiana, officials said

Video showed water levels in Louisiana beginning to rise Sunday morning

A video taken from Grand Isle, Louisiana, located in the southeast region along the state on the Gulf of Mexico, shows water rising rapidly ahead of Ida’s approach.

Hurricane Ida strengthened into Category 4 storm Sunday morning

Ida has strengthened into a Category 4 just hours before it’s expected to touch down in Louisiana.

An update from the National Hurricane Center said Ida is projected to bring maximum sustained winds of up to 150 mph. There’s also the threat of “extremely life-threatening inundation of 9 feet or greater above ground level is possible somewhere within the area from Morgan City, Louisiana, to the coast of Mississippi.”

The storm is moving toward Louisiana at a rate of 15 mph.

A Hurricane Hunter aircraft found Ida has strengthened into a major hurricane

At 1 a.m. CT, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) released a public advisory for Ida stating that an Air Force Hurricane Hunter aircraft found the storm has strengthened into a “major hurricane.”

“Although landfall is not expected for about 18 hours, impacts will begin well before that time. Tropical-storm-force winds are likely to begin overnight, therefore, all preparations to protect life and property must be rushed to completion,” NHC’s forecast discussion said.

Although Ida has continued to move steadily northwest, its new track forecast is just a little to the east of the previous one, according to NHC’s forecast discussion.

National Weather Service says parts of Louisiana may be ‘uninhabitable for weeks or months’

Around 11 p.m. CT on Sunday, the National Weather Service New Orleans issued a statement that certain parts of Louisiana may be uninhabitable for extended periods, potentially for weeks or months.

Powerful storm surges, wind, and flooding may result in structural damage to buildings, considerable floating debris, beach erosion, and flooded roads, according to the statement.

“The time is to prepare and evacuate is coming to an end quickly. Do so now or shelter in place. Do not enter evacuated areas until officials have given the all clear to return,” the statement said.

Over 1,400 incarcerated individuals jailed in southern Louisiana parishes have been relocated ahead of Ida landfall

Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman told New Orleans’ WDSU that the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections and the Louisiana Sheriff’s Task Force facilitated the transport of more than 1,400 inmates Saturday afternoon to state prison facilities before Ida makes landfall.

835 inmates from Orleans Parish and another 600 inmates from Plaquemines Parish were evacuated, WDSU reported. Gusman said 22 of the individuals in custody tested positive for COVID-19 and were separated and transported for treatment by medical contractor Wellpath Care, according to WDSU.

President Joe Biden discussed Hurricane Ida preparations with FEMA, National Hurricane Center

National Hurricane Center Director Kenneth Graham briefed Biden on Saturday about Ida’s projected path. Graham said Ida “will likely be very strong and destructive, with dangerous, life-threatening storm surge and significant rainfall that would impact both coastal and inland areas,” according to a White House briefing.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined a video conference with Biden from the National Response Coordination Center to discuss evacuation efforts and concerns about widespread power outages, the briefing said.

Biden approved an emergency disaster declaration for Louisiana on Friday, authorizing federal assistance for all of the state’s 64 parishes.

Gov. John Bel Edwards warned Hurricane Ida will be the strongest storm to hit Louisiana since the 1850s

During a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards urged residents to evacuate north of Baton Rouge and west of Lafayette as Hurricane Ida approaches the Gulf Coast, WAFB Channel 9 reported.

On August 26, Edwards declared a state of emergency and sent President Joe Biden a letter asking for direct federal assistance in response to Hurricane Ida. The Category 4 storm, which Edwards told WAFB will be the strongest storm to hit the state since the 1850s, is forecast to make landfall late Sunday with wind speeds up to 110 mph.

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