Hurricane Ida: Massive storm hits US Gulf Coast — in pictures
The storm has damaged buildings and caused massive power outages across the US Gulf Coast. At least one person was reported to have died after being hit by a falling tree in the state of Louisiana.
Category 4 storm hits Gulf Coast
Hurricane Ida has ripped through Louisiana on a path through the Gulf Coast. Forecasters have warned of heavy rainfall that could cause flash floods and life-threatening storms throughout the region. The hurricane ran through southeastern Louisiana and moved into Mississippi. It has since been downgraded to a tropical storm.
Large-scale damage to property
Louisiana was under a flash flood warning, with the storm causing damage to multiple buildings across the historic French Quarter. Hospitals were under increased pressure as the state grappled with the dual challenge of storms and the coronavirus pandemic.
Power outages across New Orleans
All of New Orleans was left without power as the hurricane left "catastrophic transmission damage" in its wake, according to Entergy New Orleans, the electric and natural gas utility that serves the city. Over 1 million people in Lousiana had been left without electricity by Monday morning.
Federal support for hard-hit areas
US President Joe Biden visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, DC, where he promised assistance for areas heavily impacted by Ida. Biden said federal support in the Gulf Coast region would remain "for as long as it takes."
At least one person dead
At least one person was reported dead on Sunday after being hit by a falling tree, a local sheriff's office in Louisiana said. Authorities said Ida's quick intensification to a massive hurricane in a matter of days impacted the mandatory evacuation that would otherwise be carried out.
Similarities with Hurricane Katrina
Ida was a smaller storm in terms of size than Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29, 2005. However, experts say Ida was more feisty in terms of the winds, as wind speeds of around 250 kmh (155 mph) were recorded.
Ongoing relief work
While efforts are being made to ensure that the response capacity is scaled up, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said "current weather conditions" in the state are "only the very beginning of what's to come," as the storm only recently made landfall. He called on residents to stay sheltered in place and to remain indoors.