By Bisola Adeyemo
Hurricane Ida has destroyed power utilities in New Orleans, Louisiana, prompting President Joe Biden to promise release of extra funds to restore power in Louisiana.
The U.S President pledged on Monday that the federal government would stand with the people of the Gulf [Coast] for as long as it takes to recover.
About 5,000 National Guard members have been deployed to aid search and rescue.
In addition, more than 25,000 workers from around the country have mobilised to support power restoration in the state, according to CNN.
About one million locals remain without power.
“It’s going to be a difficult life for quite some time,” said one local leader in the Greater New Orleans area.
According to LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans said State and local officials have conceded that number is likely to grow as search and rescue efforts continue, but argued the city had largely
She said, “held the line”. “The systems we depended on to save lives and protect our city did just that and we are grateful, but there is so much more work to be done.”
She, therefore, urged residents who had already evacuated their homes to stay put and not return until power and communications have been restored.
As the slow-moving Ida continues to move inland, it has weakened to a tropical storm – but the National Hurricane Centre warned that heavy rain could still bring flooding to parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
