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, 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

Aug 30, 2021, 2:15 PM EDT

Ida's latest forecast

Ida, one of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall in Louisiana, has dropped 18 inches of rain on parts of the state.

New Orleans has been hit with 13.7 inches of rain.

Numerous flash flood warnings remain in effect across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.

The U.S. Coast Guard conducts Hurricane Ida post-storm overflights along the Gulf Coast on Aug. 30, 2021.
U S Coast Guard/UPI/Shutterstock

Ann Colette Boudreaux comforts her grandson Abel ahead of Hurricane Ida on Aug. 29, 2021 in New Orleans.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Ida is expected to weaken to a tropical depression Monday before bringing heavy rain and possible flooding to the Tennessee Valley Monday night through Tuesday.

By Wednesday and Thursday the storm will hit the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. The forecast calls for 4 to 6 inches of rain and possible flash flooding.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin

Aug 30, 2021, 2:04 PM EDT

Hospital patients evacuated 

Ida significantly damaged Louisiana's Ochsner Health system, though neither patients nor employees have been injured, hospital officials said Monday. 

About 65 patients at two of Ochsner Health's facilities have been evacuated, they said. Ochsner Health officials said they've also been asked to help evacuate about 100 patients from Terrebonne General Health System in Houma, Louisiana.

Terrebonne General Health System said it "suffered structural damages" and has no water from the parish. Terrebonne General said it's working to complete a "smooth transition of care" to other facilities."

-ABC News' Alexandra Faul

Aug 30, 2021, 1:40 PM EDT

Coast Guard conducting search and rescue flights

The Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue flights across the devastated Gulf Coast.

The U.S. Coast Guard conducts Hurricane Ida post-storm overflights along the Gulf Coast on Aug. 30, 2021.
U S Coast Guard/UPI/Shutterstock

The Coast Guard is also assessing damage and working to make sure ports can reopen.

Theophilus Charles, 70, sits inside his house which was damaged by Hurricane Ida in Houma, La., Aug. 30, 2021.
Adrees Latif/Reuters

An apartment building that burned overnight after Hurricane Ida struck the Relais Esplanade Apartments in Kenner, La., Aug. 30, 2021.
Mickey Welsh/USA Today Network via Reuters

President Joe Biden is set to hold a virtual meeting Monday afternoon with FEMA and leaders from areas impacted by Ida.

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