Search and Rescue Continues in Louisiana Following Hurricane Ida

The death toll has risen and millions of residents on the Gulf Coast are still without power following Hurricane Ida. Ida made landfall on Sunday as a Category 4 Hurricane and has contributed to at least four deaths, major flooding, power outages and wide spread damage. Hundreds of people have been rescued but crews are still unable to access some of the hardest hit areas in the state according to Louisiana state police. It’s unclear how many residents could still be trapped by flooding and debris and according to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards “thousands of people” have been deployed by the state to help with search and rescue efforts.

Officials say electricity in some areas might not be restored for at least a month which could be life-threatening as intense heat is expected to move into the region in the upcoming days. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for southern Louisiana and Mississippi today. Some residents who weathered the storm will face temperatures as high as 103 degrees. More than 2 million people are under the heat advisory and officials have urged those who evacuated not to come home yet due to the destruction.