Hurricane Ida is no more, but the damage the historic storm left behind is widespread. From the Gulf Coast to the Northeast, the storm left its mark. Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, on Sunday, August 29th, 2021.
? @NHC_Atlantic has declared landfall of Hurricane #Ida at 1155 am CDT as a Category 4 hurricane with max sustained winds of 150 mph and a minimum central pressure of 930mb over Port Fourchon. https://t.co/7iYQ3NXNtA
At the time of landfall, Hurricane Ida became the strongest hurricane to hit Louisiana since the 1850s. As expected with a storm of this magnitude, the damage is complete in some areas.
On Grand Isle, Louisiana’s last inhabited barrier island, the damage from Ida is inescapable. For instance, 40 to 50 percent of the homes are gone. One hundred percent of those that remain suffered extensive damage.
“The people are very sad. A lot of people have lost their homes, talking about how they don’t know whether they’ll be able to go back or not, because they don’t have the money to go back, can’t afford to go back.”
bryan adams – director of jefferson parish fire services
Bryan Adams, Director of Fire Services in hard-hit Jefferson Parish, says the area is destroyed. Speaking to CNN, Adams believes it will take the area four to five years for the community to get back to where it was.
Further north, Hurricane Ida also brought problems to Mississippi and Alabama. In Mississippi, heavy rains triggered significant flooding across the Magnolia State. Moreover, the heavy flooding caused part of a highway near Lucedale to wash away.
Meanwhile, this collapse killed two and injured ten others. Similarly, Hurricane Ida brought flooding rains and even tornadoes to part of Alabama.
The Dothan tornado this afternoon as seen from a Lakota helicopter (instructor+student)… video from Julie Timberlake pic.twitter.com/IE7jEUzLmT
In this case, The National Weather Service offices in Birmingham and Tallahassee confirm a half-dozen twister touchdowns in Alabama related to Hurricane Ida.
Historic Impact
Hurricane Ida also caused tornadoes as well as major, historic flooding in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Forecasters say the impact of Ida caused rivers to swell and flash flooding to become life threatening. For instance, 12 people died in New York City floodwater alone.
Help For Hurricane Ida Victims
While the full magnitude of Hurricane Ida’s Impact is unfolding, all things considered it is clear millions of people need help now. Also, If you would like to help storm victims, check with civic and faith-based organizations in your area. They may be collecting donations. If not, it is best to donate to reputable organizations like the Red Cross and The Salvation Army who will distribute aid directly to storm victims.
Help is also available in the event that you or someone you know needs help. As a result of Hurricane Ida’s destruction, FEMA is taking applications from Louisiana residents. However, more aid could be made available as the disaster unfolds.
Finally, if you are a property owner experiencing damage from IDA there are steps you need to take. Click here for a list of HUD’s expectations of property owners and managers during disasters.
