Governor John Bel Edwards hopes to survey damage from hurricane Ida today, he wasn’t able to Monday due to the number of air rescues needed.
“The National Guard had rescued 191 citizens and 27 pets across Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, and Orleans Parishes. But also conducted helicopter hoist and lift operations in LaPlace and Jean Lafitte,” said Edwards.
Edwards said search and rescue crews spent most of Monday answering 9-1-1 calls from Sunday night once conditions were stable enough for first responders to venture out. He said today crews should begin grid searches in areas in areas that suffered extreme damage.
Power restoration for southeast Louisiana could be lengthy and New Orleans residents have been told it could be up to 21 days before 90 percent of the metro area has power again. Edwards said well over a million customers are without power.
“Sometimes you hear a million people are without power. It’s about 1.1 million homes and businesses, it’s well over a million people, I don’t have a precise number for you,” said Edwards.
Edwards encourages residents to adhere to local curfews and for those who’ve evacuated to only return when it is safe to do so.
“And that we all check on our neighbors and our families, especially those who are elderly or have special needs. And then let’s work together, let’s lift one another up in prayer, we’re going to get through this,’ said Edwards.
Edwards said so far there’s only be one confirmed storm-related death, but he expects there will be more. The governor reminded residents that more people are killed following a hurricane as opposed to during the storm and he encouraged everyone to practice extreme caution with generators and cleanup efforts.
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