The storm that has been named “Ida” is currently drenching the Northeast in a deluge of rain and snow. It is expected to continue for at least a few more hours, so stay tuned for updates on the flooding situation.
The Ida Drenches New York and New Jersey is a storm that has caused major flooding in the United States. There are currently no reports of casualties, but there have been many evacuations. Read more in detail here: is new jersey in new york.
Here’s what you should be aware of:
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As Ida moves north, it brings tornadoes and heavy rain.
Hurricane Ida’s remnants continued to make their way across the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England, causing at least one tornado and dangerous floods in the area.
That’s a tornado right there. Touchdown. Oh, my goodness.
Hurricane Ida’s remnants continued to make their way across the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England, causing at least one tornado and dangerous floods in the area. CreditCredit… via Shutterstock/Gamal Diab/EPA
The remnants of Hurricane Ida plowed into the New York City region on Wednesday evening, bringing with them torrential, wind-driven rain that flooded subway lines, splintered homes in New Jersey, prompted a tornado warning in the Bronx, and forced the U.S. Open to be postponed in Queens when the rain came in sideways.
According to the National Weather Service, rainfall rates of at least three to five inches per hour were reported throughout northeast New Jersey and portions of New York City, which was declared a flash flood emergency for the first time. The Weather Service reported 3.24 inches of rain at Newark Airport between 8 and 9 p.m. Central Park received 3.15 inches of rain between 8:51 and 9:51 p.m.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that heavy rains in Manhattan caused several train lines to be delayed as workers tried to drain the water. After radar showed a tornado had developed in the region, the Weather Service issued a tornado warning for portions of the Bronx about 9 p.m.
Strong wind gusts drove the rain sideways at times, causing a U.S. Open match at Louis Armstrong Stadium to be postponed on Wednesday night, as rain infiltrated the stadium despite its roof.
The storm system, which is on route to southern New England, is expected to bring soaking rain and perhaps life-threatening floods, according to meteorologists.
The stormy weather prompted a string of tornado warnings across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware on Wednesday, including one for Philadelphia after the National Weather Service said a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado had been observed south of the city, near Gloucester City, N.J.
In a statement, the service stated, “You are in a life-threatening scenario.” “Those trapped without cover may perish as a result of flying debris.”
On Wednesday, images and video circulating on social media revealed houses in Harrison Township, Gloucester County, that had been damaged, as well as fallen trees. On Wednesday night, the Harrison Township Police Department was unavailable for comment.
A video of a huge tornado passing across the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, which links Pennsylvania and New Jersey, was also provided by the Weather Service.
Wenonah, a tiny municipality in southern New Jersey, was severely flooded and “suffered significant damage as a result of this evening’s tornado event,” according to the mayor, John R. Dominy. He advised people to call 911 in an emergency and to remain at home or in a secure location.
“Do not go outside. Many trees are prone to falling down. Third, please avoid approaching fallen wires, since many of them may be live,” he added. “It’s impossible to see at night, and walking or driving is hazardous. Several of our roads are impassable.”
“We do not have an estimate of when electricity will be restored,” he added, adding that officials were evaluating the damage.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy stated on Twitter that the storm has caused 57,519 power outages statewide, adding that “these figures are rising.”
Residents in Lambertville, N.J., about 40 miles north of Philadelphia, shared pictures of streets flooded with brown water, vehicles submerged up to their tires, and basements flooded.
Several flash flood warnings were issued throughout the night in certain areas of the Northeast, posing a double danger. In southeastern Pennsylvania, a flash flood warning has been issued for northeastern Chester County, northern Delaware County, and Montgomery County.
The Weather Service described the situation in seven areas as “very hazardous and life-threatening.” “Do not try to travel unless you are leaving a flood-prone region or are under a mandatory evacuation order.
Rainfall totals of 4.5 to 7 inches have been reported, with additional rain anticipated, according to the Weather Service.
Other areas of New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York, including New York City, were under a tornado watch until 1 a.m. Thursday, indicating that tornadoes are possible. The National Weather Service warned on Twitter that a few tornadoes were likely, as well as isolated wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm that struck Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday has been reduced to a post-tropical cyclone.
Earlier in the day, meteorologists at the Weather Service in Baltimore verified that a tornado had touched down near Annapolis, Md., after a tornado watch was issued for southeastern Pennsylvania, most of New Jersey, Delaware, and eastern Maryland on Wednesday. They said they were unable to determine its speed or evaluate the extent of the damage.
A spokeswoman for the city of Annapolis, Mitchelle Stephenson, said the tornado had knocked out electricity to approximately 2,500 people and that the city had received complaints of fallen trees. According to Ms. Stephenson, the fire and police agencies had blocked roadways to evaluate the damage. As of 3:30 p.m., no casualties had been recorded.
Strong, rapid gusts were captured on video on social media, obstructing roads with fallen utility poles, signs, and trees.
High winds may cause damage to residences and mobile homes, according to the National Weather Service in Baltimore, which advised people in the southern portion of the state to seek shelter in a basement or on the lowest possible level of a strong structure.
On Tuesday night, the governors of Virginia and West Virginia proclaimed states of emergency in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.
Forecasters predict widespread river flooding in southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, especially in the Monongahela, Potomac, Susquehanna, Delaware, and lower Hudson River basins.
Significant & life-threatening flooding is forecast across the Mid-Atlantic into southern New England today ahead of T.D. Ida. 3-8 inches (with locally higher amounts) of rainfall will lead to widespread major flood impacts, especially in urban areas and areas of steep terrain. pic.twitter.com/jJ2mWcVcMl
September 1, 2021 — NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC)
Wilmore Dam in central Pennsylvania was “overtopping” with almost three feet of rainfall, according to John Banghoss of the Weather Service in State College, Pa. Mr. Banghoss believes that more rainwater may cause dam damage.
The Weather Service advised the 42,000 inhabitants of central Pennsylvania’s Johnstown, Ferndale, and Dale to “move immediately to higher ground,” describing the situation as “life-threatening.”
Henri, a tropical storm that made landfall in southern Rhode Island on Aug. 22 and sent lashing bands of rain over most of New England, was the most recent storm to strike the Northeast. Henri knocked out electricity throughout much of coastal Rhode Island, prompted evacuations in Connecticut, trapped hundreds of vehicles in New Jersey, and broke New York City rainfall records.
Henri knocked out electricity to more than 140,000 homes from New Jersey to Maine, while vehicles were stuck in flooded streets in New York City. And Henri had followed Elsa, which had wreaked havoc on the Northeast in early July, downing power lines and forcing would-be subway passengers to wade through waist-deep water to get into one Upper Manhattan station.
Drainage flooding across parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic, especially in urban areas, may disrupt the morning commute on Thursday, according to meteorologists.
Mr. Ramunni said, “Obviously, it’s been so wet.”
“I can tell you it was the second-wettest summer in Central Park’s history,” he said, adding that the quantity of rain in the forecast, “on top of how wet it’s been,” will create problems.
New York City Emergency Management issued a travel advice for Wednesday and Thursday early due to the flash flood watch.
Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York warned people to be wary of deceptively deep bodies of water that seem to be shallow during a press conference on Wednesday.
Mr. de Blasio said, “We’ll get through this one, too.” “Let’s get this storm out of the way.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has instructed state agencies to develop emergency response plans and advised people to be cautious. Ms. Hochul also cautioned that a tornado may hit the downstate region. More than 5,000 utility employees have been trained to respond to damage and restoration throughout the state, she added.
On Thursday, the storm will travel further into New England.
“Ida will essentially be out of New England by Thursday night,” said Dan Thompson, a Weather Service meteorologist. “However, it is likely to rain heavily before it leaves.”
Isabella Grullón Paz, Eduardo Medina, Derrick Bryson Taylor, and Ashley Wong contributed reporting.
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Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on the Louisiana shore, causing severe flooding and property destruction. Drone video reveals the scope of the cleaning in the New Orleans region. CreditCredit… The New York Times’ Johnny Milano
Residents in Louisiana experienced the compounded impacts of the outages on Wednesday, including acute water and gas shortages, as the state faced its third day of extensive power disruptions after Hurricane Ida.
Because Hurricane Ida, which knocked down the transmission lines that supply New Orleans, over one million people in Louisiana were still without power. In many parts of Jefferson Parish, obtaining potable water required lengthy lines. On Wednesday afternoon, almost a third of the state’s fuel stations were out of gasoline or unable to distribute it, according to Patrick De Haan, the director of petroleum research at GasBuddy, a driver-assistance app.
At a press conference, Gov. John Bel Edwards stated, “We are asking folks to try to be patient and understanding.” “Whenever you get a storm this bad, it takes a long time to get all of that infrastructure back up and running.”
At least one person died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Orleans Parish, and two individuals died while trying to restore electricity in Adger, Ala., bringing the total number of fatalities related to the storm and its aftermath to at least eight.
Senator Bill Cassidy stated in a statement that President Biden intended to visit Louisiana on Friday to witness the devastation firsthand. The travel was confirmed by a White House official, but no more details were provided.
Entergy, Louisiana’s biggest utility, said this morning that it has restored power to approximately 107,800 customers throughout the state, but that the cities worst affected by Ida may be without power for days.
At a press conference, Deanna Rodriguez, the CEO of Entergy New Orleans, stated, “This is the first step towards getting back to normal.”
Without a complete accounting from Entergy on the damage to its system, Joshua D. Rhodes, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin’s Webber Energy Group, said it was impossible to estimate when electricity would be fully restored. He warned that restoring electricity to everyone may take weeks, if not months.
Mr. Rhodes said, “Usually, there is a core that remains.” “However, this is a total and utter blackout.”
Mr. De Haan added that power outages may shut down refineries and petrol stations, causing a backlog at a time when individuals depending on generators have increased demand for gasoline.
On Wednesday, many individuals searching for fuel or diesel were unsuccessful. Long queues of vehicles — as well as individuals on foot carrying empty gas cans in search of a functioning pump — snaked through the streets as stations ran out of gasoline.
People in and around his village of Golden Meadow, according to Collin Serigne, a photographer from Lafourche Parish, were suffering from a serious shortage of food and water, which was exacerbated by a lack of gasoline.
Mr. Serigne, 20, needed additional petrol after distributing supplies to friends and family, but the one functional gasoline station nearby had a six-hour wait. So he and a buddy traveled through debris-strewn roads for more than two hours to New Iberia, where the line was short, and loaded up on additional gasoline to give to those in his town who needed it.
Mr. Serigne stated, “We observed several individuals fighting in a petrol station.” “Everyone is filling their spare petrol tanks.”
The governor said that he had previously spoken with the White House three times about the state’s gasoline problems.
Mr. Edwards said, “The state of Louisiana supplies gasoline for the rest of the nation.” “And now we need the rest of the nation to help Louisiana out with a little fuel.”
Cynthia Lee Sheng, the president of Jefferson Parish, said during a press conference that the parish was “a shattered community” without power, communication, or gas. She said she took an overhead tour of portions of the state on Wednesday and was caught aback by the extent of the devastation in Grand Isle and Lafitte.
She stated, “I had no clue how destructive the hurricane was to such a large number of towns.” “It looks like a bunch of matchsticks,” says the narrator.
On Wednesday in New Orleans, cars snaked across a Costco parking lot as drivers waited for petrol. Credit… The New York Times’ Edmund D. Fountain
Peggy Gamberella, 63, last heard from her younger sister, who claimed she had lost everything in Hurricane Ida and had no drinking water or power.
Patricia Killingsworth of Chauvin, La., has a chronic lung condition and has difficulty breathing in hot weather. She depends on a machine to assist her in breathing, but it must be plugged in. Ms. Killingsworth was able to borrow someone’s generator when Ida knocked out her electricity, according to her relatives.
Mr. Killingsworth, 61, said in a text message, “I don’t see no assistance in sight for days,” before begging, “Send help if you can.”
That was Monday evening, and the family hasn’t heard from her since then.
Ms. Gamberella said the family had been looking for assistance for two days, but she lived in Laurel, Miss., more than 200 miles away.
Ms. Gamberella remarked, “I just hope she’s okay.”
According to Lauren Smith, volunteer coordinator and spokeswoman for the Cajun Navy Ground Force, a community-led disaster-response organization, roads are still blocked in some southern Louisiana communities throughout Terrebonne Parish due to downed trees and power lines, making access and rescue efforts difficult.
One of the most difficult problems, she added, is obtaining gasoline to run generators, chainsaws, equipment, and cars while response teams try to clear the roadways.
She cited a lady in need of hospice care whose generator ran out on Monday as an example of the need of having fuel for generators for individuals with impairments and medical problems.
“We essentially had to take all of the gasoline that was powering generators for our camp and transfer it to her generator,” she said.
According to Andrew Schroeder, vice president of research and analysis at Direct Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian organization, towns across the Gulf Coast area are more likely to depend on backup generators than solar electricity, which may cause issues if there are fuel shortages.
“Every day that passes becomes a greater challenge,” he said. “You shouldn’t have too many difficulties in the first 24 hours. By the end of the week, and we’ve seen this in a number of other areas, you’re having difficulties with dialysis, as well as oxygen production and ventilation.”
Thousands of Medicare patients who rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment are presently without power in Orleans, Jefferson, Terrebonne Parishes, and other areas, according to statistics from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Megan Alfonso, 33, of Lacombe, La., has been hunkered down with her mother, Deborah Alfonso, since Saturday.
Her 63-year-old mother, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, typically depends on a plugged-in oxygen concentrator equipment. She switched to oxygen tanks when the electricity went out on Sunday afternoon.
The family began with five tanks, each of which can hold enough air for approximately two and a half hours. They were down to their last tank by Tuesday AM.
Ms. Alfonso described her mother as “more frightened than anything.” “She stopped utilizing them and began taking chances in order to preserve them.”
Ms. Alfonso decided to take a chance after waiting for hours for emergency authorities or response organizations to respond. She drove to a medical supply business about 30 minutes away on Tuesday evening, despite the fact that the car sounded “rough” after being immersed in water hours before.
She was given four full oxygen tanks, adequate for another ten hours.
Norco, Louisiana, has a Shell manufacturing plant. Devika Krishna Kumar/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters/Reuters
Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on a fertilizer factory, releasing extremely deadly anhydrous ammonia into the atmosphere. Isobutane and propylene, combustible compounds that are harmful to human health, spilled from two broken gas pipes. In addition, a plastic factory that lost power as a result of the storm is releasing ethylene dichloride, a hazardous chemical.
Early incident reports submitted with federal officials are beginning to paint a clearer image of the hurricane’s devastation to Louisiana’s industrial corridor, delaying relief operations and exacerbating the dangers of people returning home.
According to facility records and power outage statistics, at least 138 industrial locations that handle significant quantities of hazardous chemicals are in or near parishes that have lost power entirely, forcing companies to depend on unstable backup power systems. Hurricane Harvey, which wreaked havoc on Texas in 2017, knocked off cooling at a chemical facility south of Houston, resulting in a series of explosions that wounded emergency personnel and forced a local evacuation.
The entire scope of the devastation was still being assessed by local authorities. However, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality cautioned that more than a third of its ambient monitoring stations had ceased functioning due to power outages, adding to the uncertainty. Some locations, like as the Valero Refinery in St. Bernard Parish, claimed they had turned off their air monitors ahead of the storm to safeguard the equipment.
“Right now, the most essential thing is survival and recovery,” said Yudith Nieto, a veteran community organizer who works in both Louisiana and Texas. “Facilities and the chemical discharge for emissions and pollution will be a major concern” when people return to their homes and assess the damage.
Crews at CF Industries’ fertilizer plant in Ascension Parish, the country’s biggest fertilizer manufacturer, were unable to access two storage tanks that were leaking anhydrous ammonia, according to a notification to the government National Response Center. Anhydrous ammonia is a colorless, smelly gas that may cause serious health issues, including eyesight and lung impairment. The flares that had been burning the chemical off were momentarily extinguished by hurricane winds, according to the firm.
There was no evidence that the gas escaped outside the plant, according to Christopher Close, a CF Industries spokesperson. In an email, Mr. Close said, “Any substantial leak would certainly be detected and reported in the nearby region (by smell).” He said that company experts were analyzing data to establish the amount of the ammonia leak.
Two broken pipes in St. Charles Parish were spewing propylene and isobutane, both combustible gases that are very dangerous to human health. The oil and gas firm claimed in its lawsuit that local workers had no idea whether any chemicals had gotten into adjacent rivers. Phillips 66 spokesperson Bernardo Fallas said the pipes had been shut down before the storm hit, and any chemicals that remained were ignited. Once the firm’s employees were able to safely access the site, he added, the company would evaluate the damage and begin repairs.
Due to storm-related power outages, ethylene dichloride was released from a storage tank at a Shintech plastics factory in Plaquemine. Shintech is a part of the Japanese industrial conglomerate Shin-Etsu. The chemical, which is used to make PVC plastic, is toxic to the respiratory system and has been related to numerous health problems. The plant is receiving a $1.5 billion upgrade as part of Louisiana’s ongoing fossil fuel infrastructure development. Messages left for Shin-Etsu were not returned.
In 2018, the Phillips 66 oil refinery in Alliance, Louisiana. Two pipes were damaged by Hurricane Ida, according to the business. Credit… The New York Times’ Bryan Tarnowski
Royal Dutch Shell, the world’s largest oil and gas corporation, said its refinery and chemical complex in Norco had discharged an unknown quantity of hydrogen when the facility was shut down ahead of Hurricane Harvey’s arrival. Flooding and black smoke pouring from flares painted a horrific picture at the vast complex on Monday.
Shell has informed the EPA that a limited quantity of gas is still being sent to the flares, according to the agency’s most recent report. According to the E.P.A., the Louisiana State Police are also monitoring a gasoline leak at the location.
Environmental groups have stepped up their calls for a rewrite of safety regulations aimed at protecting the public from chemical spills and accidents, claiming that companies should be required to prepare more explicitly for climate-related disasters such as floods, wildfires, and other climate impacts that threaten communities near chemical plants. Stronger safeguards are also required, according to unions representing plant employees and emergency responders, who face some of the harshest toxic exposures.
Casey Kalman, a researcher at the Union of Concerned Scientists, who conducted the study of the industrial facilities without electricity, stated, “These people already experience the stress of living near these operations on a daily basis.”
“However, every time a storm strikes, the dice are rolled, and there is the possibility of some sort of discharge or explosion that may damage them and their families,” she said. “They have to be concerned about a double catastrophe.”
Backup power isn’t needed at the moment, and emergency responders aren’t always given enough information about the chemicals on site to combat spills and fires. Environmental organizations are also asking for air monitoring along fences around businesses, as well as multilingual warnings to keep local communities aware of any risks to public safety.
Those neighborhoods are particularly low-income and racially diverse. According to E.P.A. statistics, almost half of individuals who reside within one mile of hazardous industrial sites monitored by the agency are black, Latino, or other persons of color.
The Obama administration has taken steps to improve disaster preparation at those facilities that are obliged to submit Risk Management Plans to the Environmental Protection Agency. President Donald J. Trump, on the other hand, suggested weakening the regulation.
President Biden is now evaluating the regulations, which would affect over 12,000 industrial facilities throughout the country, including chemical plants, oil refineries, water treatment plants, fertilizer plants, and pulp and paper mills. More than 2,500 chemical plants in the United States are already located in flood-prone regions.
The E.P.A.’s attempts to assess damage to 23 Superfund hazardous cleanup sites in Louisiana were further hampered by floods and extensive power outages. Staff from the agency said they had examined 10 as of Tuesday and found no chemical leaks or other issues. According to a Congressional assessment released in 2019, up to 60% of these locations are vulnerable to floods, storm surge, wildfire, and sea level rise.
The combination of extensive power outages and leaks, according to Wilma Subra, a Louisiana scientist who has assisted communities in combating industrial contamination, is especially concerning.
“When a large portion of the population lacks access to power or the internet, they are unable to get these alerts,” she said. “It might be taking place in their backyard or on their side yard, and they have no idea.”
On Monday, floodwaters prevented access to a bridge that spans the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and leads to Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. Credit… The New York Times’ Edmund D. Fountain
Hurricane Ida’s impacts will be felt well beyond the area where it made landfall in southern Louisiana on Sunday. It is expected to produce severe downpours as it travels through the Upper Ohio Valley and into the Northeast later this week, with up to 10 inches of rain possible in certain areas of the Mid-Atlantic. More than 80 million people in the United States were under flood warnings or advisories, the bulk of which were caused by Ida’s torrential rainfall.
Although scientists aren’t sure how climate change will impact every aspect of tropical cyclones, there is widespread agreement that a warmer climate will result in more severe and heavy rainfall during storms. Warming causes an increase in water vapor in the atmosphere, which may lead to greater rain.
“We tend to believe that once tropical storms cross land, they run out of fuel,” Rosimar Ros-Barros, a research meteorologist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, said. A tropical storm’s winds, on the other hand, may reach thousands of kilometers from its core. In this instance, even as Ida advances inland, it will continue to pull in extremely warm, moist air from over the Gulf of Mexico and wrap it around its cyclone, according to Dr. Ros-Barros. It’s possible that this air is contributing to the worsening of rainfall.
Suzana Camargo, a climate scientist at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, stated, “We are witnessing this rise in severe rainfall for all kinds of occurrences.” “We would anticipate more severe rains with hurricanes. That’s exactly what happened to Ida.”
The quantity of rainfall associated with a tropical cyclone is determined by how hard and for how long it rains, which is determined by the storm’s speed. Hurricane Harvey, the wettest tropical storm ever, dumped almost 60 inches of rain in eastern Texas in 2017. The storm stalling along the coast contributed to the heavy rain and consequent floods.
Ida was still moving at a 10 to 15 mph rate, which Dr. Ros-Barros described as “normal.” In the United States, the main weather system travels in a V-shaped pattern. Winds from the west travel south to the Gulf of Mexico before turning north to the northern Atlantic. Other weather systems, on the other hand, may cause currents to flow in opposite ways, affecting the direction of a storm or its pace.
A tropical cyclone’s course is dictated by a temperature difference as it travels farther inland. That, according to Dr. Rosa-Barros, may be one of the reasons why central Pennsylvania and West Virginia are anticipated to receive such heavy rain, up to 10 inches in some areas. The cyclone may form a warm front there, which will raise the air, generate clouds, and result in additional rainfall.
Many of the regions in the storm’s path have already had unusually heavy rain this summer, raising certain rivers and saturating soils, increasing the danger of floods. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the Middle Tennessee Valley, which was hit by flash floods earlier this month that killed at least 20 people, may receive up to four inches of rain.
Until scientists can conduct an attribution study, a kind of research that analyzes the connections between climate change and particular severe weather events, scientists won’t know if climate change made Ida and the extent of its floods more probable, and if so, by how much.
Scientists agree, however, that Hurricane Ida is a forerunner of future storms. “If our world continues to warm at its current worrisome rate, Ida is an indication of what we may expect to see in the future,” Dr. Ros-Barros added. “Wow, that’s terrifying.”
Before Hurricane Ida hit, Lowe’s workers in McComb, Miss., put a generator onto a truck. Credit… Getty Images/Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse
New Orleans and most of the surrounding area are without electricity as a result of downed transmission lines and power plants caused by Hurricane Ida, and restoration may take weeks.
As a result, thousands of individuals and companies have resorted to backup generators and other creative solutions to keep at least some of their lights and appliances switched on and their phones charged.
However, there are dangers to using homegrown electricity, the most dangerous of which is carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s a colorless, odorless gas generated by combustion, such as in a motor or generator when gasoline, kerosene, diesel, natural gas, or other fuels are burned. It may also be dangerous if it builds up in the air you breathe.
Dr. Emily M. Nichols, an emergency medicine expert in New Orleans, stated, “It is essential to understand that carbon monoxide is not something you will taste or see.” “It’ll cause mild symptoms all the way up to death.”
According to the city’s Emergency Medical Services, at least 12 individuals in New Orleans, including seven children, have been transported to hospitals to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. They also reported one fatality in the city on Tuesday, which they believe was caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to a spokesperson for the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the fire department responded to roughly a dozen reports from houses where carbon monoxide was eventually discovered in the first 24 hours following the storm.
In St. Tammany Parish, officials received many such calls: According to a fire department spokesperson in Slidell, nine individuals in a house, including a baby, were suffering symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning on Tuesday morning. They were sleeping in a garage while using a generator. They were transported to local hospitals and are expected to make a full recovery.
Running a generator in a confined area, such as a home, a shed, or a basement, is very hazardous, according to health experts. Indoor usage of charcoal, any gasoline or kerosene-powered engine, or even a small gas camp stove are all viable options.
According to the Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky, Ohio, early signs of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, weakness, dizziness, and nausea. Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, may kill you before you notice any symptoms if you’re sleeping or drinking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is particularly uncommon during natural disasters or extreme weather, when people lose access to normal sources of electricity and heat and must improvise. In February, a cold winter storm blew in from the north, knocking out electricity and bursting pipes in cities like Houston, sickening and killing dozens of people.
The C.D.C., on the other hand, claims that carbon monoxide poisoning is “completely avoidable.”
The EPA recommends that everyone have a functioning carbon monoxide detector in their home at all times, and many municipal regulations mandate them. When the alarm goes off, go outside or to a wide open window for fresh air, and make sure everyone in the house is safe.
Use a generator in a well-ventilated outside location if you have one. If you want to use your automobile engine to charge a phone or other device, or if your vehicle has a function that allows you to use the engine as a generator, don’t do it in a garage.
On Monday, Troy Bonvillian examined the damage to his flooring company in Houma, Louisiana. Credit… The New York Times’ Callaghan O’Hare
Volunteers and relief organizations from around the country are preparing to rescue, feed, and shelter people who have been impacted by Hurricane Ida and her aftermath. For those who want to assist, here is some advice.
Do your homework before you donate.
Natural catastrophes provide fertile ground for con artists to prey on vulnerable individuals in need and take advantage of others’ good intentions to assist them. Scammers utilize phone calls, text messaging, email, and postal mail, as well as going door to door, according to the Federal Communications Commission. The Federal Trade Commission offers advice on how to recognize a phony charity or fund-raiser.
Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and other organizations may offer you with information about charity organizations and assistance agencies, as well as point you in the right direction.
Money donations, rather than products donations, are generally the greatest method to assist since they are more flexible and can be diverted easily when needs alter.
After a natural catastrophe, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud or the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 1-866-720-5721 if you believe an organization or person is engaging in fraudulent behavior. FEMA also has a webpage where you can double-check facts regarding aid and learn how to prevent frauds.
Here are some local hurricane relief groups.
All Hands and Hearts has a disaster assessment and response team stationed in Beaumont, Texas, in preparation for Hurricane Ida. Its volunteers will visit storm-affected regions as soon as they are able, addressing immediate needs such as clearing debris and trees with chainsaws, tarping roofs, mucking and gutting flooded dwellings, and disinfecting homes with mold infestation.
More than 3,500 disaster-readiness food boxes have been prepared by the Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves South Louisiana, and include things such as rehydration drinks, nutrition bars, and bottled water. It also keeps cooking equipment on hand that may be moved and used to reheat ready-to-eat meals. Bottled water and cleaning materials are appreciated donations. Volunteers are welcome to apply, but the most effective way to help is to provide money, according to the group.
Aid to the Arts NOLA has set up an impromptu culinary center inside the Howlin’ Wolf nightclub in New Orleans, utilizing thawed food from eateries that have been without power. According to Julie Pfeffer, a director, the meals will be given to those in need. The organization, which was founded to assist individuals during the epidemic, includes a contribution website. Volunteers, vehicles, and takeaway containers are all needed.
AirLink is a non-profit humanitarian flying company that transports supplies, first responders, and medical professionals to disaster-stricken areas. It has partnered with Operation BBQ Relief to provide equipment, chefs, and volunteers to help those impacted by the disaster make meals. Donations are gratefully accepted.
SBP, formerly known as the St. Bernard Project, was established in 2006 by a couple from St. Bernard Parish who were fed up with the sluggish response after Hurricane Katrina. It focuses on repairing houses and businesses that have been destroyed, as well as supporting recovery strategies. Donations are needed for its Hurricane Ida plan, which would pay for materials for house reconstruction and safety gear for team members.
A lot of volunteer rescue organizations go by the moniker Cajun Navy in some form or another. One of them is Cajun Navy Relief, a volunteer disaster response squad that established a formal nonprofit organization in 2017 after providing relief and rescue services after more than a dozen floods, hurricanes, and tropical storms in Louisiana. The team has identified items that are in short supply and is now collecting contributions.
Together, we are rebuilding New Orleans welcomes contributions to assist with its efforts, which relies on volunteer labor to restore houses. Additionally, the group has established an online wish list as well as a hotline number: 844-965-1386.
In coastal southeast Louisiana, the Bayou Community Foundation collaborates with local partners in Terrebonne Parish, Lafourche Parish, and Grand Isle. It established an Ida relief fund.
The Louisiana Baptists, a statewide network of 1,600 congregations, offers an online form where individuals may seek recovery assistance. Its disaster assistance activities include tree removal and roof tarping, as well as food, laundry services, and counseling. Those interested in making a donation may do so here.
National groups are assisting in the effort.
AmeriCares, a health-focused relief and development organization, is reacting to Hurricane Ida by matching contributions in Louisiana and Mississippi. When it is safe to go, Vito Castelgrande, the organization’s Hurricane Ida team head, said the group will begin evaluating damage in the hardest-hit areas.
After Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, where its creator, Gary LeBlanc, grew up, Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based charity, was established in 2006. More than 15 million meals have been provided to individuals who have been impacted by natural disasters or who have other needs. In Ida’s honor, the organization has set up two mobile kitchens to provide hot meals and is taking contributions.
To assist people impacted by Ida, GoFundMe has established a centralized hub featuring verified GoFundMe fund-raisers. As new fund-raisers are confirmed, it will be updated.
8,000 hygiene kits, including shampoo, soap, a toothbrush, deodorant, and first-aid supplies, were given by Project HOPE, which dispatched an emergency response team with 11 medical volunteers. Donations may be given only towards Hurricane Ida assistance alone.
Hundreds of trained disaster professionals and relief materials have been deployed by the Red Cross to assist those in evacuation shelters. About 600 volunteers were ready to help with Ida relief operations, and shelters with cots, blankets, comfort kits, and ready-to-eat meals were set up in Louisiana and Mississippi. Products for blood transfusions have also been positioned by the organization. You may donate online redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999.
Field kitchens and other relief supplies have been prepared by the Salvation Army for use throughout the Gulf Coast.
The United Way of Southeast Louisiana is accepting contributions for a relief fund that will be used to rebuild and offer long-term support, such as community grants.
