Hospitalizations in the u. S. Hit alarming heights not seen since the Winter Surge Announcer this is Nbc Nightly News with Lester Holt substituting tonight and reporting from New Orleans, Tom Llamas. Good evening. Im Tom Llamas in for lester we are coming to you tonight from an american city in crisis and a region in need of Help Hurricane Ida causing catastrophic damage. The view from above just a glimpse of the actual pain felt on the ground families in La Place, Louisiana Running from Idas Surge overnight, and today pulled from their homes in Boats Hospital Staff caring for sick patients as parts of their buildings came apart in Grand Isle, Idas Force and surge captured on camera in realtime and now a cleanup under way so people have some place to stay and Tonight Youll meet the nurse who cared for dozens of babies in a nicu unit, unable to see her own children to help infants in need of all of this as New Orleans faces a new type of disaster no power anywhere in the city at least One Million still in the dark. Tonight it could be weeks before it comes back the Death Toll Tonight stands at two, but the Governor Warning that number will likely go up we have a team of reporters fanned out across the region, including Al Roker Tonight a look at New Orleans reeling from ida. Reporter tonight, desperation in louisiana. The storm just came it took Everything Reporter you dont have anything left it took everything. Reporter entire communities cut off. Power down, and for many, no Cell Signal to call for help officials in an urgent race to find terrified families still trapped. It was the weirdest thing ever i got my baby out, though i wasnt going to stop until i got my baby out. Reporter in La Place, people rescued from their homes using high water vehicles and boats, including donbrela brown, who is pregnant how high was the water . The water was to my stomach. Reporter your stomach where youre carrying your baby was under water . Uhhuh. Reporter what were you thinking i couldnt do nothing but cry. Reporter Browns Message to Officials Tonight im about to be a mother of seven. I have nothing we need help. Reporter others turn to social Media Tiffany Miller also in La Place begging for help while trapped in her attic in the dark. Water came in, and it came in kind of quick. The only thing that we could do is climb in the attic. Reporter so far 5,000 National Guard troops have been activated. 25,000 Cleanup Crews from 30 states are on the way. Officials warning conditions are still very dangerous, including possible alligator infested floodwaters. And the Death Toll here is likely to rise what i can tell you is that the last couple of days have not been good for our state and for the next several days and weeks, they will not be easy either. Reporter the damage to the Power Grid alone is described as catastrophic the entire city of New Orleans without electricity. Some outages could last for weeks this is a massive electrical power that collapsed during Hurricane Ida with several feeder bands, all throughout New Orleans. A lot of people think this may be one of the epicenters of the Citys Power problems. So many tonight anxious about how long this could last. Reporter you look at this, and youre thinking were not going have power for weeks, if not months exactly exactly right. It will be a long time before we get power here again reporter all of it beginning sunday as the powerful storm made landfall. The Eye Wall of Hurricane Ida is now approaching New Orleans, and were feeling those hurricane gusts, somewhere around 85 miles per hour and the sad part is things are only going get worse. And they did winds reaching more than 170 miles an hour on the Coast Power lines like these stood no chance. The rain relentless. Testing the states upgraded levees, which thankfully appeared to have held. At the height of the storm, this woman, a nurse, had to be pulled from her car. With daylight, the damage revealed roofs torn from building after building, trees down everywhere. Massive debris seen all across New Orleans streets. This boat tossed into the middle of a highway. We know Hurricane Ida had the potential to cause massive, massive damage, and thats exactly what we saw. Reporter some communities like Grand Isle along the Gulf Coast completely cut off. And tonight, with power out and communications down, its still impossible to assess the full impact of this monster storm. You see whats happening here and the need for help is real, because several louisiana cities were in Idas Path of destruction. Houma, about 60 Miles Southwest of where we are saw some of the worst of it. Our Morgan Chesky there tonight. Reporter tonight this is houma, a hurricane beaten, windbattered shell of a city, one of the first to suffer a direct hit from ida. This is the worst ive ever been through. Ill never stay home again ill tell you that ill definitely going to evacuate. Im never going chance this again. Reporter the storm pummelling the area with gusts topping 140 miles per hour, ripping off roofs in seconds. And leaving homes shredded for dale crocker, a Total Loss he spent today with his service dogs, salvaging whatever he could, recalling the Moment Ida turned his home inside out. I cant hear, but i heard that reporter in nearby shelter, dozens try to figure out what comes next theyre going to push me homeless, me and my family. Seven people in the household. Reporter jerome and his Dog Rocky rescued by police when Storm Surge started rushing into their home the water was right here on me. Reporter they were lucky because help came the Citys Police Chief says his officers couldnt immediately respond to so many of the desperate calls because sending teams out would put them in danger cruisers unable to compete with degreecovered roads. We had a lot of calls for rescues. Reporter what do you tell them . I cant save you if i cant save myself first. Reporter ida leaving nothing untouched. Even a Power Plant specially built to withstand a category 4 hurricane no match for the storm, knocking out houmas power. At the medical center, a delicate but urgent race against time. When ida tore off part of its roof, staff scrambled to protect icu patients. I could actually feel the building sway. Reporter today ambulances stretched around the building, rushing one patient after another to clinics and hospitals that still had room. And tonight despite the damage, there is some good news the hospital telling me they were able to move every single patient that needed care the focus now making critical repairs here before another potential Hurricane Moves in tom . That is a bit of good news about those patients there morgan, Thank You. And there is growing Desperation Tonight in Grand Isle, a community on one of Louisianas Barrier islands. As we mentioned, its now completely cut off by widespread Flooding And DamageMiguel Almaguer has the latest reporter those who stayed feared they would die. The communities of Grand Isle, Golden Meadow and matthews taking a direct and unforgiving hit from ida. Dozens called for help to get out, but no one could make it in Josh Welch rode out the hurricane on his barge in Grand Isle. Its like being in a blizzard you couldnt really see around you at times. I wouldnt want to go through it again, thats for sure. Reporter those who survived the impact are now struggling to escape the Aftermath EmergencyTeams Cant make rescues and can barely make Phone Calls to get word out on local radio Grand Isle got hammered, probably harder than they ever been hammered before reporter the road to rescue perhaps as dangerous as the choice to stay behind. Highways and back roads across louisiana are a minefield of downed trees and Power Lines. I had to get them to come rescue me from my house to get out. And youre out here helping to open the roads . Thats right. Thats how bad it is. Reporter this is where the only road to Grand Isle ends. Its still under several feet of water, and just behind me broken into pieces its in the community down this road here where neighbors are said to be on the rooftops waiting for help seven miles long, Grand Isle is and now was the only inhabited Barrier Island in louisiana. 1500 live here these before and after Satellite Images perhaps our clearest view of whats been lost i think that the first reconnaissance is going to be by air, because there is so much water there, were not going to be able to get in. Reporter tonight trying to find whats out of reach, as what comes into view is what no one wants to see. Miguel almaguer now joins us near Grand Isle miguel, i understand like many others across this region who cant make it out any further. Neither can you and your team. What challenges are responders up against . Reporter well, tom, let me show you what theyre up against. Just yesterday this was a small community. There were four homes behind me that were hurricane ready. Today only one is left standing and the roads that lead here not only have buckled, many of them have washed away. Tom . Grand isle absolutely ravaged by Hurricane Ida. Miguel, our thanks to you and your team. Please Stay Safe now ida remains on the move tonight, across the mississippi now as a tropical depression, bringing Heavy Rain and the threat of more flooding Ron Allen is in jackson for us ron, this is far from over what are residents bracing there in mississippi . Tom, the drenching rains that continue to fall here have been mississippis biggest problems all day, much more rain than expected there is concerns about flooding, high waters there some Tornado Warnings out there as well. There are trees and Power Lines down as many as 135,000 dwellings without power, a number that may rise there are also Tens Of Thousands of evacuees here, many who weve been speaking to say theyre trying to extend their stays at hotels or make other arrangements because theyre being told its not safe enough to go back home just yet, and it may not be for some time. Officials here are urging everyone to shelter in place, Stay Safe, stay inside, and stay off the roads until the storm has completely passed. Tom . Ron allen, our thanks to you. And as ida moves further inland, nearly 80 Million people are now under Flash Flood alerts Al Roker is tracking it all al, what are you watching tonight were watching for rain, tom. This thing is moving into very saturated ground in certain areas. So ida, as it moves to the northnortheast, it continues to track at a fairly good clip, moving northnortheast 9 miles per hour, 35mileperhour winds. It is going to bring Heavy Rain, stretching starting tonight on into tomorrow into the midatlantic states, into the northeast by thursday, and then finally, out to sea. But when it does, it is leaving in its path quite a bit of rain. Flash flood watches and warnings stretching from the Gulf Coast into the northeast. For 78 Million people, rainfall amounts from 2 to 3 inches. But locally, we could see upwards of 6 inches of rain or oversaturated soil that is going to mean a lot of flooding for a lot of folks, tom, stretching from the gulf all the way into the northeast. Al roker, who has been covering this storm with us from the getgo al, Thank You. In just 60 seconds, that other major Headline Tonight after 20 years, americas longest war coming to an end but what happens to The Americans who didnt get out of afghanistan . Stay with us and tonight, americas longest war is over. The final Evacuation Flight left kabul followed by the last of u. S. Troops but many american citizens remain behind Richard Engel has the breaking Details Reporter the united states ended its 20year War In Afghanistan today with the conclusion of the largest noncombatant airlift in American History. Im here to announce the completion of our withdrawal from afghanistan and The End of the military mission. Reporter 123,000 people flown out of the now talibancontrolled country. The taliban Firing Barrages of Celebratory Gunfire after the last aircraft departed, but not all americans were able to get out. The citizens that were not brought out number in the low, very low hundreds. Though i believe that were going to be able to get those people out. Reporter its been two decades of military deployment. 2,461 americans killed 1,144 nato allies killed more than 48,000 afghans killed 300,000 afghan soldiers trained, only to collapse when confronted about a trillion dollars spent and more to come to care for the wounded, afghanistan handed back to the very same islamic fundamentalists the united states drove from power just weeks after 9 11 a generation of afghans raised with expectations of freedom and fundamental rights under an umbrella of american protection. It all ended Today Isis taking parting shots, hoping to etch their Dark Name in history, Firing Rockets at the airport to no effect the u. S. Firing back the military says against an Isis Car Bomb afghans say ten civilians were killed. A war once called Operation Enduring Freedom proving to be neither enduring nor leaving a legacy of freedom. Americans still in kabul are being advised to lay low, shelter in place as diplomatic efforts will continue to evacuate them through the civilian airport once it reopens. Tom . Richard engel with this tough chapter in American History 11 marines, a sailor and an Army Soldier were the last american Service Members killed in the War Peter Alexander now has a look at the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice corporate Humberto A. Sanchez behind every name is a Story And Family in grief if there were more nicoles, it would be a much better world. Reporter just days before her death, Sergeant Nicole Gee wrote i love my job, posting this poignant picture of her cradling an afghan baby. For nicoles dad, shell always be his little girl. She is my hero. She is a warrior shes very compassionate. She is very caring, loving Reporter 20yearold marine corporal Dylan Merola his mom says was one of the best kids ever. Just an infant when u. S. Troops first arrived in afghanistan. Army staff Sergeant Ryan Knauss Wife says her husband would have no regrets for him, it is the ultimate honor he could give back to his country and to help those People Reporter these Service Members now home, their sacrifice honored in cities and towns across a grateful nation, including marine Corporals DaeganPage And Humberto sanchez, Lance Corporals david espinoza, and kareem nikoui, Navy Corpsman Maxton soviak. Johanny rosario was from massachusetts. We will always remember her as the hero that she is. Reporter Missouri Remembering Lance corporal jared schmitz. Ten of the fallen were based at californias camp pendleton, like rylee mccollum, set to become a new father in just three weeks and corporal hunter lopez, the son of sheriffs deputies the patriotism doesnt go by area or state. It impacts all of us. Reporter marine Staff Sergeant TaylorHoovers Dad says he was a natural leader he was helping those that were less fortunate, those that cant help themselves. Reporter the ultimate sacrifice in service of others. Peter alexander, Nbc News our thanks to you, peter. In a moment, the big headline on covid. The new Travel Restrictions proposed for Unvaccinated Americans. Back now with the Covid Surge in America Sparking dramatic moves overseas the Eu Today recommending a ban on Unvaccinated Americans from traveling there meanwhile, many american hospitals are facing a growing crisis with hospitalizations at their highest level since the Winter Kristen Dahlgren reports. Miss nancy. Reporter tonight hospitals being pushed to the brink, averaging 100,000 hospitalized with covid, higher than any point since last winter when the Vaccine Wasnt available for most in oregon, the National Guard is now on hand as Hospitals Overflow in florida, where 93 of icu beds are now full, there were over 150,000 new cases last week, a rise of over A Thousand percent since june if we really got the overwhelming majority of those 80 Million people vaccinated, you would see a dramatic turnaround in the dynamics of the outbreak. Reporter in san diego, hospitals are now delaying some elective surgeries to help conserve critical resources. While in texas, Michelle Puget is seeing the toll firsthand. Her son daniel died not of covid, but of treatable Gall Stone Pancreatitis there were no beds available for the veteran. They had called all of the hospitals in texas, arkansas, oklahoma, kansas and colorado. Reporter by the time he got treatment, it was too late. I just dont think people realize, you know, how how important this is. It could be your mother, your son, you know, your daughter. Reporter a mothers Pain A Warning as the pandemic again pushes the system beyond its limits kristen dahlgren, Nbc News our thanks to kristen. When we come back, inspiring america. Nurses keeping the youngest safe during the storm. We are coming to you from south rampart street tonight, and thats what the building behind me looked like before the storm. Honoring jazz music, the soul of New Orleans. And now its been struck with significant damage as we mention, hospitals have also been hit inside some of the quiet heros of this crisis helping newborns weather their first storm. They were the calm during the monster storm. The nurses inside this neonatal intensive Care Unit at Ochsner Baptist Health hospital in New Orleans volunteering to stay through the night with the babies who desperately needed them the new mothers forced to evacuate. Are you proud of your team and your fellow nurses i am so proud my team pulls together it doesnt matter whats happening theyre going make sure that the babies are taken Care Of and that their Team Members are taken care. Reporter we met Nurse Paula Jean simon today who runs this unit 39 babies, each with a Nicu Camera on them, so parents could still feel close to their newborns the nurses calming lots of frazzled nerves as they looked out the window and saw a category 4 hurricane rocking their city its about trust and them feeling comfortable with the nurses and the staff that is taking Care Of their babies they knew that their babies were going to be well taken Care Of, loved on while they couldnt be here. Reporter simon, a mother of four herself, knows what its like to worry about her family, who she hasnt been able to see since the storm hit. She sacrificed her time and worked through the night so those new mothers could get a chance to hold their own children you havent been able to talk to your kids or see your kids whats thats been like stressful. Reporter but its hard its hard, yes. My kids i know are safe ive got great kids. The house is strong. So were good. And our thanks to everyone helping this region out Im Tom Llamas in for lester we Thank You for watching right now on Nbc Bay Area news tonight, thousands of people evacuated as the Caldor Fire is now just about five miles away from the Lake Tahoe basin. A little scary, but we have all of our stuff, and were heading out. Things have changed in an instant, you know. They can. And tonight we are joined by the mayor of south Lake Tahoe. She, too, evacuated but handling a lot of problems, including the possibility of looting. Were looking at with the next 24 hours could be worse on the fire lines. And elizabeth holmes o