Ida to bring wind, rain and high tides as it passes Louisiana

Southeast Louisiana is under a state of emergency as Hurricane Ida heads for the Gulf Coast.

"As a precautionary measure, the governor declared a state of emergency for us to use state resources in our preparedness efforts and to ensure the safety and security of Southeast Louisiana," Mark Cooper in the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness told WWL First News' Baton Rouge Bureau. 

GOHSEP's biggest concern is for the areas outside the levee protection along coastal areas of Southeast Louisiana.

Cooper explained, "The National Guard, the State Police and Wildlife and Fisheries have put their emergency personally on a high state of alert and have pre-positioned resources so that in the event that assistance is requested from those parishes, that we are ready to deploy immediately.  That could be anything from sandbagging to doing rescues of individuals in those low-lying areas.  We've also activated the state's Emergency Operations Center."

The National Hurricane Center says Ida is expected to remain a minimal hurricane as it passes near Louisiana.

"Ida is expected to cross the Gulf of Mexico... and approach the northern Gulf coast Monday night or early Tuesday," the Hurricane Center's advisory stated.  "A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect for the Northern Gulf Coast from Grand Isle Louisiana eastward to west of Pascagoula, Mississippi... including New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.  A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 24 hours.  A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area."

The National Weather Service office for New Orleans says the impacts in Southeast Louisiana will be wind, rain and tidal surge.

"Hurricane Ida is expected to move through the Gulf coastal waters to the south and east of Louisiana and Mississippi and then turn toward the Alabama and Florida coast Monday night into Tuesday.  Tropical storm force winds and tides of 3 to 5 feet above normal are expected as this tropical system passes by," the Weather Service said.

Strong winds could down some limbs, cause power outages, blow around garbage cans and other unsecured items.

"Tropical storm force winds... will be possible from Monday afternoon through Tuesday morning."

Rainfall is not expected to be enough to cause any significant flooding in the New Orleans metro area, but will be heavy at times.

"Heavy rainfall will be possible Monday through Tuesday... as moisture moving northward from Hurricane Ida interacts with a cold front approaching the area. Current indications are that 3 to 5 inches of rain... with locally higher amounts... could occur during that time period," according to the forecast from the Weather Service.

EVACUATIONS

Voluntary evacuations are up for lower Plaquemines and anyone in an RV or camper in Grand Isle.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

All Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lafourche and Grand Isle schools are closed on Monday.

All St. Tammany Schools will close 3 hours early Monday.

In St. Charles Parish: Upper elementary schools, Luling Elementary and all Head Start students will dismiss at 11:10 a.m.

Middle and High schools will dismiss at 11:51 a.m.
 
Lower elementary schools and St. Rose Elementary will dismiss at 12:30 p.m.