The few gas stations with fuel and generator power were surrounded by long lines. People took out rotting food from refrigerators. Neighbors borrowed pool water from each other to wash their clothes or use as a bathwater.
Governor. John Bel Edwards spoke as cleanup began in the soggy area, despite the oppressive heat of the late-summer heat.
Officials in New Orleans announced that there are seven locations where people can get a meal and have air conditioning.
Edwards stated that state officials were also working to establish places to distribute food and water, but it would not start Tuesday. According to the governor’s office, discussions are ongoing about setting up cooling stations or places where people with oxygen can plug in their machines. However, it did not provide any details as to when these might be operational.
Ida knocked out power to more than 1,000,000 homes and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi and New Orleans. The 150 mph winds of Ida caused a major transmission tower to fall and knocked out hundreds of substations.
Officials estimate that more than 25,000 utility workers worked to restore electricity. However, it could take several weeks.
Some areas are experiencing water shortages due to water treatment plants being overwhelmed by floodwaters and power outages. Federal officials stated that approximately 441,000 people lived in 17 parishes without water and another 319,000 were on boil-water advisory.
The number of deaths climbed to at least four in Louisiana and Mississippi, including two people killed Monday night when seven vehicles plunged into a 20-foot-deep (6-meter-deep) hole near Lucedale, Mississippi, where a highway had collapsed after torrential rains. Edwards stated that he anticipates the death toll will rise.
Crews in Slidell searched for a 71 year-old man who was attacked and bitten by an alligator as he walked through Ida’s floodwaters. His wife pulled him up to the stairs of the house and paddled off to seek help. But when she returned, he was gone.
Officials from the wildlife department warned about bears, snakes and alligators searching for food in the storm’s aftermath.
Edwards was accompanied by Deanne Criswell, FEMA Administrator, to witness the destruction firsthand. According to her, FEMA officials arriving Tuesday will go door to door in difficult-hit areas to register residents for assistance, especially in areas where there are widespread cell phone outages.
New Orleans was awash with drivers waiting for a chance to get in at a Costco, which was one of few places in the city that had gasoline. Other gas stations had similar lines. Drivers would pull up at the pumps and see the handles covered with plastic bags, then drive off.
Renell Debose was left in New Orleans Superdome for a week after Hurricane Katrina 2005, which claimed 1,500 lives and rendered the city almost uninhabitable. She stated that she would be willing to go without electricity for a few days, but not more.
“I love my hometown. This is what I was made for. She said that she couldn’t do it without air conditioning.
Shelly Huff, who, like Debose, was waiting at Costco for gas, said that it had been difficult. The worst thing is not having power. But I am fortunate to have wonderful neighbors. One of them left us a generator after he evacuated. It hasn’t been difficult because we have been sharing food and supplies.
She said, “I could probably survive a week without electricity but any longer and it’s going to be time for me to leave town.”
Michael Pinkrah used the fuel he had left to buy food. His 3-week-old son was cradled in an SUV’s back, while his 2-year old daughter was in the front. Meanwhile, his wife waited in heat in a long line to get into one the few city grocery stores.
Pinkrah stated that he and his wife considered evacuating, but couldn’t find a suitable hotel room. The couple found out about the store via social media. Even that link was weak.
“We cannot charge our electronic devices to stay in touch with people. He said that without this, communication is impossible.”
Hank Fanberg, an entrepreneur from New Orleans, had a plan to cook food.
Houma was hard hit and the harsh reality of living without refrigeration, air conditioning or other basic needs started to sink in.
Pastor Chad Ducote stated that “our desperate need right now” is for tarps and gasoline to generate electricity, food, and water. He stated that a Mississippi church group arrived with food and supplies. His neighbors also came to his pool in order to grab buckets of water.
“The people down there are doing the best they can. He said that they don’t have any money.
The hot weather only added to the misery. New Orleans was issued a heat advisory. Forecasters said that the combination of high temperatures, humidity and high temperatures could cause it to feel like 105 Fahrenheit (41 Celsius) Tuesday and 106 Wednesday.
Full Coverage: Hurricane Ida
Tourists who couldn’t leave New Orleans before the storm left were also stuck in New Orleans. According to the airport, there was no power or water and all commercial flights were cancelled for a third time.
Cynthia Andrews could not return to New Orleans if she wanted. She was in a wheelchair and was tied to a power cord that connected her to the generator that powers the elevators at Le Meridien hotel.
Andrews’ machine to help her breathe after a 2018 lung collapse, was not working when the power went out on Sunday. After spending nearly a night in her wheelchair, the hotel allowed her to stay in its lobby and provided a cot.
She said, “It was scary, but as long this thing continues to run, I’ll still be okay.”
