Ida Left Path Of Destruction In Louisiana, More Than A Million Without Power
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - When Hurricane Ida slammed into Louisiana on Sunday with wind gusts over 170 miles per hour, it left a path of destruction in its wake.
In hard-hit Lafitte, rescue crews used airboats to reach people who needed to get out of the flood waters.
New Orleans and much of southeast Louisiana are in the dark, losing power after strong winds from Ida howled for hours after the storm blew ashore in Port Fourchon, Louisiana, about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans.
CBS4's Ted Scouten, in New Orleans, said Ida's winds knocked out a power transmission tower, which fell into the Mississippi River, and eight of the lines that supply power to the city.
Several homes could not stand the power of Ida's winds. Downtown, an old brick building collapsed. Another home in the Uptown District didn't make it either.
"It was rough. It was a lot of wind damage. It started about 10 yesterday morning, in the evening it wasn't anything to play with," said Freddie who lives in the area.
In the Lower 9th Ward, which suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina 16 years ago, a two-story home collapsed, debris spilled onto the street.
Mike March saw it fall.
"The actual top of the house, the whole structure, it wasn't piece by piece, the whole structure like came forward. I guess the wind was coming from that way, from up front. It was enough to just lean that thing over," he said.
Wesley Foster lives next door. He said the home was being renovated and there was no one inside at the time. When it fell, it jolted him out of bed.
"It sounded like somebody dropped a bomb right there. Scared me half to death. My heart started beating faster and faster. I got worried," he said. "I was worried it was going to fall this way. I'm blessed it didn't fall this way. The whole thing collapsed," said Wesley Foster.
Just down the street, evidence of more trouble.
A boat caught fire after hitting the shore of the Mississippi River, a fireboat doused it and put out the flames. A few feet away, a ferry that that broke loose during the height of the storm ran a ground.
"I heard on the news this morning that it had broken loose from where it was docked, but didn't know where it ended up until I got up on top of the levee," said Chad Wellbrock.
Many people spent the day doing what they could to clean up after Ida while looking out for their neighbors.
"The wind knocked the tree down. It was blocking the street and got the power line hanging down, so we cut the tree out so the traffic could flow through, at least one lane" said Joanne Guvos.
Due to the extensive damage, it could take a while for the power to be restored to the area. FPL has sent 750 workers to the area to assist in power restoration.
Ida is being blamed for at least one death.
If you would like to help, Neighbors 4 Neighbors is poised to assist in the relief and recovery. Donations can be made at neighbors4neighbors.org/ida or by texting IDA to 41444.