Hurricane Ida is expected to make landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, exactly 16 years after Hurricane Katrina hit the state. Ida crossed the Cuban island of Isla de la Juventud on Friday and is likely to touch mainland Cuba later. By the time the hurricane makes its way to Louisiana, the tornado can carry winds of up to 190 kilometers per hour.
The city of New Orleans and many places in the area are asking residents to flee and prepare for severe weather. Local hospitals are sending patients home and preparing to go into lockdown. Local experts believe the hurricane could cause more than $20 billion in damage if it followed its predicted path.
Current forecasts are that Ida will become a Category 3 hurricane, the same category that Hurricane Katrina was in when it hit New Orleans. This hurricane caused $120 billion in losses.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in the state Thursday, after it was not yet clear if Ida would turn into a hurricane. President Joe Biden agreed to Edwards’ request to declare a state of emergency. This means that the country can rely on emergency aid from the national government.
Louisiana isn’t alone in preparing for the storm. On Wednesday, the storm will reach Tennessee, which was already hit by heavy rain a week ago. Twenty people were killed in the floods caused by this. Now the state may once again experience heavy rain from Ida.
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