Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards held a news press conference Monday evening to update the state’s search, rescue, and cleanup efforts after Hurricane Idea — now a tropical storm — which has left more than a million people without power.
“As much as I wanted to get out and survey they damage for myself,” the governor lamented, “all of our air equipment was needed for search and rescue.”
Most of the area is still not accessible by ground, he said.
Calling it a silver lining, Gov. Edwards said that although a few smaller levees overtopped and flooded homes, overall, the system performed well. “They did not fail,” he stated emphatically.
Edwards recounted a phone call Monday with President Joe Biden, who approved the governor’s disaster declaration Sunday, and the FEMA Administrator, who will visit Louisiana Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the National Guard continues its search and rescue efforts using high-water vehicles, boats, and helicopters, which began “very early this morning,” the governor said.
So far, the National Guard has rescued 191 citizens and 27 pets across Jefferson, St. John the Baptist, and Orleans parishes.
Nearly 1.1 million homes and businesses are without power, including New Orleans and almost the entire state’s southeastern region. Additionally, at least 18 of the state’s water systems are experiencing outages.
The governor asked residents not to return to the state until their parish told them to and asked people to help put as little demand on the water system and electrical grids as possible.
“If you have evacuated, now is not the time to return, unless and until your parish tells you its safe to do so,” Edwards declared, asking people to avoid driving on the roads and follow curfews.
So far, there is one storm-related death, the governor confirmed.
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