Tropical storm “Ida”: Hurricane hits the US coast at 150 mph

Exactly 16 years after the devastating hurricane “Katrina”, the region around New Orleans is facing another catastrophe: Hurricane “Ida” hit land with devastating force. The power went out in tens of thousands of households.

Hurricane “Ida” hit the Louisiana coastal area with tremendous force. The center of the storm hit land near the offshore island of Grand Isle in the afternoon (local time) with winds of 150 miles per hour. Meteorologists had previously classified the hurricane as “extremely dangerous” – it was rated four out of five. Over the warm Gulf of Mexico, “Ida” had massively gained in strength. Overland, however, the storm should slowly weaken.

The state and its largest city New Orleans would have to reckon with heavy rain, a “life-threatening storm surge”, catastrophic wind gusts and long-lasting power outages, said the National Hurricane Center (NHC). Meteorologists warned that the area threatened by “Ida” was particularly vulnerable. Because it is a center of the petrochemical industry, which could lead to environmental damage in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Just over an hour after the hurricane hit land, the operations center in the city of New Orleans reported “widespread power outages”. The interactive map from the local energy supplier Entergy already showed more than 200,000 households without electricity. According to the Poweroutage.us website, more than 370,000 customers across the state have been without power due to storm damage. In New Orleans, the emergency services stopped working for the time being because of the dangerous winds.

“Life-threatening storm”

The residents of the affected states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama should follow the instructions of the local authorities and get to safety, said US President Joe Biden during a visit to the headquarters of the US civil protection agency Fema in Washington. The destruction from the four-out-of-five hurricane will likely be “immense.” “It’s going to be a devastating hurricane, a life-threatening storm,” he said.

The president also addressed the Gulf Coast residents directly. The government will provide the region with all the help it needs, promised Biden. Fema has already placed 2.5 million meals, 3 million liters of drinking water, 76,000 tarpaulins and 64 generators in the region. In addition, hundreds of helpers, 90 ambulances, 8 ambulance planes and 7 helicopters were provided, the authority said. The US military is also preparing for an aid mission.

National Guard in action

Louisiana’s governor John Bel Edwards had asked everyone to go to a safe place before “Ida” arrived. He also mobilized the National Guard and declared a state of emergency in order to be able to fall back on additional aid. Long traffic jams formed on the motorways, and residents and holidaymakers could no longer refuel at some petrol stations.

Oil company Exxon Mobil cut production at its Baton Rouge refinery to half its capacity of 520,000 barrels a day, reported people familiar with the facility’s operations. Similar measures were taken by energy companies Phillips 66 and PBF Energy Inc. Across the region, many people stocked up on supplies and drinking water or filled sandbags. Hospitals, which are already heavily utilized with the fourth corona wave, are also preparing.

Memories of Hurricane Katrina

Exactly 16 years ago to the day, Hurricane Katrina hit land in the area. An estimated 1,800 people were killed at the time.

“Ida” hit western Cuba on Friday as a level one of five cyclones. According to reports from the state media, the hurricane had caused power outages there and trees fell. Thousands of people were brought to safety and public transport in the capital Havana was suspended. “Ida” is the fourth Atlantic hurricane of the season.