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

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

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, 3:11 AM EDT

Latest forecast for Category 1 Hurricane Ida

Ida has weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour, as it continues to thrash Louisiana.

As of 1 a.m. CT, Ida was moving north at 9 miles per hour with the eye of the storm located about 20 miles south-southwest of Greensburg, Louisiana, and 45 miles from McComb, Mississippi, according to an advisory from the National Weather Service.

Ida is expected to continue heading north inland over southeastern Louisiana early Monday morning and later move into southwestern Mississippi, with further weakening forecast throughout the day. Ida is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm later Monday morning, Nevertheless, the National Weather Service warned of continued threats from dangerous storm surge, damaging winds and flash flooding in parts of southeastern Louisiana.

Ida is forecast to weaken into a tropical storm as it moves through Mississippi on Aug. 30, 2021.
ABC News

In LaPlace, Louisiana, where up to 13 inches of rain has fallen from Ida so far, there were reports of high-water rescues to save residents trapped on top of homes amid completely flooded roads. The National Weather Service has extended a flash flood emergency for the area.

The National Weather Service also declared a flash flood emergency for Lafitte and Jean Lafitte, Louisiana, on Sunday night due to heavy rain and storm surge reportedly causing a levee to fail. Citing local law enforcement, the National Weather Service said more than 200 people were in "imminent danger" and urged people to "seek higher ground now!"

A flash flood warning and a tornado watch have been issued for numerous areas due to Hurricane Ida.
ABC News

Heavy rainfall from Ida will continue Monday in southeastern Louisiana and spread northeast into the Lower Mississippi Valley. Total accumulations of 10 to 18 inches, with isolated maximum amounts of 24 inches, is possible across southeastern Louisiana into far southern Mississippi through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Storm surge, hurricane and tropical storm warnings remain in effect from Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border. A tornado watch is also in place from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle until 6 a.m. CT.

Ida is forecast to turn to the northeast on Monday and track across the Middle Tennessee Valley and Upper Ohio Valley through Wednesday, dumping rain throughout the region, according to the National Weather Service.

-ABC News' Max Golembo and Samantha Wnek

Aug 30, 2021, 2:08 AM EDT

Over 130,000 customers without power in Louisiana's most populous parish

Entergy, Louisiana's major electricity provider, is reporting more than 130,000 customers without power in East Baton Rouge Parish as Hurricane Ida pummels the area, according to Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome.

DEMCO, the largest electric cooperative in Louisiana, is also reporting over 7,000 outages in East Baton Rouge Parish, which is home to some 440,000 people. Meanwhile, at least 20 roads are closed throughout Louisiana's most populous parish due to fallen trees and six structures have been heavily damaged, Broome said in a video message posted on Twitter early Monday.

"There could be more trees down overnight and more damage to structures," the mayor warned. "We need everyone to remain vigilant, to stay in your home because we want you and your family to stay safe."

Broome has issued a curfew for East Baton Rouge Parish from Sunday at 8 p.m. ET to Monday at 7 a.m. CT. She urged residents to "stay in as long as possible" to allow first responders, local officials and utility company workers to assess the damage and restore power to the area.

"The truth of the matter is, restoring power could take some time," Broome admitted.

Aug 30, 2021, 12:53 AM EDT

Louisiana mayor pleads for help, saying 200 people stranded

The mayor of Lafitte, Louisiana, is pleading for help Sunday night, saying the town needs help with water rescues. He told ABC News affiliate WGNO that 200 people were stranded.

"Never seen one like this," Mayor Tim Kerner Jr. told the station. "Worst storm in our history."

He said the storm waters are over the levees, have destroyed and school and has put people in "imminent" danger.

Aug 29, 2021, 11:57 PM EDT

Latest forecast for Category 2 Hurricane Ida

Ida has weakened to a Category 2 hurricane as it batters Louisiana. Six to 12 inches of rain has fallen in some parts of the state and another 4 to 6 inches is possible.

PHOTO: Hotel staff brace a door to keep it from opening in high winds after the hotel lost power in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29, 2021 during Hurricane Ida.
Hotel staff brace a door to keep it from opening in high winds after the hotel lost power in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29, 2021 during Hurricane Ida. - Hurricane Ida knocked out power to all of New Orleans on August 29, the Department of Homeland Security said, as the Category 3 storm battered the southern US state of Louisiana.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

PHOTO: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 29: Rochun Williams uses the microwave in the entry way of the hotel after discovering a working power outlet to heat dinner for her three-year-old child during Hurricane Ida on Aug. 29, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - AUGUST 29: Rochun Williams uses the microwave from her hotel room in the entry way of the hotel after discovering a working power outlet to heat dinner for her three-year-old child during Hurricane Ida on August 29, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Power is out in much of New Orleans from the storm. Ida made landfall earlier today southwest of New Orleans.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

President Joe Biden has approved Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edward's request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration.

Ida is expected to weaken to a tropical storm Monday as it slowly moves into southwestern Mississippi with heavy rain, strong winds and flash flooding. Ida will continue to bring heavy rain through Monday across southeast Louisiana, coastal Mississippi and southwestern Alabama.

Through Wednesday, as Ida moves inland, considerable flooding is possible in parts of the lower Mississippi Valley, Tennessee Valley, upper Ohio Valley, Central Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic.

-ABC News' Melissa Griffin

Related Topics

Sponsored Content by Taboola