The Aftermath of Hurricane Ida Leaves Thousands Out of Power

Hurricane Ida, one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the United States’ strike on Louisiana has been the most impactful natural disaster in the nation after a long while, beginning on August 26 and finally calming down on September 4. The aftermath of the storm includes ongoing power outages across the state, leaving thousands of people in the dark.

As of today, hundreds of people outside of New Orleans remain without power, and over 250,000 are unable to return to school. Due to the increased likelihood or criminal activity as a result of the power outage, New Orleans has placed a nightly curfew on all of its citizen.

The death toll due to the hurricane is currently at 26, after 11 newly reported deaths in New Orleans were confirmed to be related to the storm. Winds reaching over 241 kilometers per hour almost immediately knocked out the power for over a million people statewide.

According to the health department of New Orleans, heating during the extended power outage were said to be the cause of death for most people ages 64-79 within the death toll. The remaining deaths within those ages were due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Severe flooding and the destruction of houses, vehicles, and electrical poles alike after being swallowed by storm water and engulfed by the wind caused the deaths of at least 50 people North of Louisiana, from Virginia to Connecticut. Urban drainage systems were unable to handle the overwhelming amount of water, and about 62,000 people in Louisiana still do not have running water in their homes.

Around 3,200 people are currently in mass shelters around the state, while 25,000 others are staying in hotels through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s transitional sheltering program.