Ida Knocks Out Power to New Orleans, Before Weakening to a Tropical Storm.<br />Ida Knocks Out Power to New Orleans, Before Weakening to a Tropical Storm.<br />On August 30, Hurricane Ida weakened to a tropical storm <br />after slamming coastal Louisiana as one of the <br />strongest storms ever to make landfall in the region.<br />On August 30, Hurricane Ida weakened to a tropical storm <br />after slamming coastal Louisiana as one of the <br />strongest storms ever to make landfall in the region.<br />NBC News reports that the storm cut power to <br />over 1 million homes and businesses, <br />including the entire city of New Orleans.<br />NBC News reports that the storm cut power to <br />over 1 million homes and businesses, <br />including the entire city of New Orleans.<br />Gov. John Bel Edwards said that Louisiana's $14 billion levee system appeared to have held up against Ida.<br />Gov. John Bel Edwards said that Louisiana's $14 billion levee system appeared to have held up against Ida.<br />The system was specifically designed to protect the New Orleans metro area from intense flooding.<br />The system was specifically designed to protect the New Orleans metro area from intense flooding.<br />It didn't overtop. There was no failure. <br />The situation in New Orleans, as bad<br />as it was today without the power, <br />would be so much worse, Gov. John Bel Edwards, via NBC News.<br />It didn't overtop. There was no failure. <br />The situation in New Orleans, as bad<br />as it was today without the power, <br />would be so much worse, Gov. John Bel Edwards, via NBC News.<br />This storm packed a very powerful <br />punch. It delivered the surge that <br />was forecasted, the wind that <br />was forecasted and the rain, Gov. John Bel Edwards, via NBC News.<br />This storm packed a very powerful <br />punch. It delivered the surge that <br />was forecasted, the wind that <br />was forecasted and the rain, Gov. John Bel Edwards, via NBC News.<br />According to NBC News, Ida's winds were just short of <br />157 mph, the level considered a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.<br />According to NBC News, Ida's winds were just short of <br />157 mph, the level considered a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.<br />Only four storms have made landfall <br />in the continental U.S. as Category 5 <br />hurricanes in the last century:.<br />the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935, .<br />Camille in 1969.<br />Andrew in 1992 and Michael in 2018.<br />Andrew in 1992 and Michael in 2018.<br />President Joe Biden approved Louisiana's disaster declaration, offering federal aid for people and governments in the affected areas.<br />President Joe Biden approved Louisiana's disaster declaration, offering federal aid for people and governments in the affected areas
