reporter: in houma, winds ripping apart buildings, sending this roof crashing into a power pole, snapping it in half. hurricane hunters flying into ida s stunning 17-mile-wide eye. towering thunderstorms swirling around as the storm approached land. these images of destruction showing the power of the storm. ida, one of the strongest hurricanes on record to hit louisiana. the state s third major hurricane in just over a year. making landfall 16 years ago to the day that hurricane katrina slammed the state. new orleans mayor warning residents this is a very dangerous and a very real situation. this is the time. heed all warnings. ensure that you shelter in place, you hunker down. reporter: our ginger zee on the ground in the crescent city. reporter: right behind me, the whipping winds on canal pst. the site of the mardi gras parade. you would have dancers lining these streets.