Almost 800 rescued in St. John the Baptist Parish after Hurricane Ida

At least three people have died as a result of the storm.

ByJulia Jacobo, Emily Shapiro, Ivan Pereira, Morgan Winsor, and Bill Hutchinson
Last Updated: August 31, 2021, 8:36 AM EDT

Ida is barreling through Louisiana after making landfall in the state as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Sunday afternoon.

It was one of the strongest hurricanes on record -- by both wind speed and pressure -- to roar ashore in Louisiana.

Ida, now a tropical storm, is hitting on the 16-year anniversary of Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane that ravaged the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Katrina unleashed a series of events, taking the lives of more than 1,800 people and leaving more than $100 billion worth of damage in its wake.

Latest headlines:

Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern.
Aug 30, 2021, 4:53 PM EDT

Ida moves over Mississippi, flash flood watches extend from Louisiana to Rhode Island

Ida has weakened to a tropical depression one day after making landfall as a powerful Category 4 hurricane.

An airboat runs along flooded Highway 51 near LaPlace, La., on August 30, 2021, after Hurricane Ida came ashore in Louisiana.
Mickey Welsh/The Advertiser via USA Today Network

People look at debris damage in Laplace, La., on Aug. 30, 2021, after Hurricane Ida made landfall.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Ida's now located 20 miles north-northwest of Jackson, Mississippi.

All storm surge warnings and tropical storm warnings have been discontinued.

But tornado watches remain in effect for parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida; five tornadoes have been reported Monday.

More than 80 million Americans from Louisiana to Rhode Island are under flash flood watches as Ida charges ahead toward the Northeast.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin

Aug 30, 2021, 3:38 PM EDT

911 service restored in New Orleans

Emergency 911 service has been restored in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.

As recovery efforts get underway, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuesday morning to meet with Gov. John Bel Edwards and survey damage, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

A man looks up next to a chunk of roof that ripped off a building the French Quarter due to Hurricane Ida in New Orleans, Aug. 30, 2021.
Dan Anderson/EPA via Shutterstock

A side of a building collapsed in the Central Business District due to winds from Hurricane Ida in New Orleans, Aug. 30, 2021.
Dan Anderson/EPA via Shutterstock

FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell will go to Jackson, Mississippi, Tuesday evening to meet with Gov. Tate Reeves.

-ABC News' Allie Pecorin, Josh Hoyos

Aug 30, 2021, 3:18 PM EDT

Louisiana damage 'catastrophic,' governor says

In a briefing with governors and mayors affected by Hurricane Ida, President Joe Biden vowed full government support.

"We're there to help you get back on your feet," Biden said.

The Shell Norco manufacturing facility is flooded after Hurricane Ida pummeled Norco, La., Aug. 30, 2021.
Devika Krishna Kumar/Reuters

Jeremy Hodges removes a light from his family's destroyed storage unit in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Aug. 30, 2021, in Houma, La.
David J. Phillip/AP

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said he estimated nearly 2 million are without power.

Biden said, "We're in close contact with local electric providers to see what they need. They are all private providers. We don't control that, but we're doing all we can to minimize the amount of time it is going to take to get power back up."

In the meeting, Edwards touted the success of the levee system, saying none of them were breached. But, he added, "Damage is still catastrophic."

Rene Hebert cleans out the family's destroyed offices as cleans up in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Aug. 30, 2021, in Houma, La.
David J. Phillip/AP

Edwards said a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued seven patients from a hospital in Lafourche Parish after its roof was ripped off by the powerful winds.

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky

Aug 30, 2021, 2:38 PM EDT

At least 1 dead in New Orleans

At least one death has been reported in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. Details have not been released.

This brings Ida's death toll to at least two. A 60-year-old man in Ascension Parish died Sunday when a tree fell on a home, officials said.

At an emotional news conference Monday, Cantrell said the "worse-case scenario" with Ida "did not happen."

"We did not have another Katrina … we should all be grateful," she said.

Cantrell said New Orleans has a few collapsed buildings but not widespread destruction.

However, power is out throughout the city, 911 is not available and there are small pockets of standing water from blocked drains. The mayor stressed that residents should shelter in place.

-ABC News' Alexandra Faul

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