The worst. As soon as the storm passes, well put this, well put the countrys full might behind the rescue and recovery. The help from the federal government and local crews will be needed. Right now, a half million people in the new Orleans Area do not have power. Joining us now to show the power of the storm, Nbc News Meteorologist Bill Karins and ali velshi. We can see the strong winds there. How is it on the ground . The signal is going in and out. Were trying everything possible. This is the way it goes right now. These are gusts. Theyre not sustained wind. As you can see, when they come in. What im going through right now, it feels like Microderm Abrasion on my face. Our viewers say what are you putting yourself in this danger for . Theres a Concrete Wall there so im completely blocked the the elements by a wall and from the hotel in front of me and this is still what im getting. Were a couple blocks from the Mississippi River here. So some of this may be coming off. You see these
10 being very concerned, what is your assessment for the levee safety and the overtopping? i m concerned. as long as these winds keep pushing in, we have some problems that are going to occur. it is constantly pressure on that water, pushing it up, the constant pressure on the levees, the integrity of it. so yes. i m concerned. i would say a 9 or a 10. i m confident that we got the residents out. again, we continued to monitor with the sheriff s office. we ve done a phenomenal job of getting in touch, moving those people along. and you said they were under a mandatory evacuation anyway. if they were to call 911 because of the overtopping of the levee and they want help, will they get help this evening? we do have them stationed in
The winds are low enough. in the last two minutes, it went away on the radar screen. that doesn t mean we won t have wind damage. they only issued it for really intense winds. the outer band of the storm is still what we call the eye or the center of the storm on the western side of new orleans right now, so anywhere on the west side of lake pontchartrain. that s where the winds will be very strong. when the winds go over the lake, they don t have the frictional component or the houses or the trees so the winds will be really strong, especially with that southerly wind coming in. the winds have come down a little bit. you will remember they were 82, 83 miles an hour. 71 at the lake front. we haven t seen incredible winds in baton rouge. we re at 44. with the winds passing to the east, i think hammond will have more winds. the winds with more potential
To the day after the tragedy of hurricane katrina. it made land port shortly after noon today and this video shows the power of the storm. you can see the strong wind gusts and rising ocean floor in the small town of grand isle, louisiana. speaking of the strong winds, this new video within the hour showing ida ripping off the roof of this small hospital along the louisiana coast and it is not just strong winds wreaking havoc this evening. part of the region can get up to 20 inches of rain. a threat president biden warned of a short time ago. this afternoon, and promised federal resources. it s not just the coast, not just new orleans. i think north as well. the rainfall is expected to be exceedingly high. the people on the gulf coast, i want you to know we re praying for the best and preparing for
Will in the hammond area. the levees have protected the new orleans area. we re getting the heavy rain tonight. match winds 80 to 100 miles an hour, that should be just about over with. most of the damage has already occurred and there s the category 3, 120 miles an hour. once the winds begin to knocking down, we ll start to switch over to tracking all the flooding problem. all right. you re staying with me. thank you. communities across louisiana are hunkering down as hurricane ida brings rain and heavy winds to the area. this morning crews in one parish closed flood gates to frequent area south of new orleans. joining us now, kirk, thank you so much for being with us. governor john bell edwards warned of significant storm surge in your area. what is it like the there?