Hurricane Ida Deaths Continue to Rise, Nearly 60 Dead Thus Far

Hurricane Ida has ripped along the East Coast causing devastation and leaving fifty-eight people dead, including children. Over half of the deaths occurred in Jew Jersey, according to Governor Phil Murphy. 13 have died in New York City, and Louisiana’s Department of Health announced nine individuals have died in the south, including three deaths in a nursing home.

Many individuals who lived on the first floor or basement apartments died due to flooding. The governors of New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency Wednesday after flooding devastated many communities, transportation routes and buildings.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced she had spoken with President Biden on Thursday when the U.S. death toll was at around 46. Hochul says Biden pledged federal assistance to the state. Biden is scheduled to visit Louisiana on Friday.

Biden is expected to survey damage from the Category 4 Hurricane in Louisiana where roughly 1 million people are still without power. The Washington Examiner reports the presidential visit was welcome but was postponed until Biden’s visit would not divert resources from the clean-up effort.

“We thank the federal partners who are already here helping with the recovery, and we will ask the president once again that supplemental aid be delivered to southwest Louisiana and expedited or southeast Louisiana,” said the state’s Republican Senator Bill Cassidy.

Cassidy also cautioned that mistakes not be made similar to those in the past. “We know from bitter experience with Hurricane Laura that aid can be delayed too long,” he said. The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and American Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern flew to Louisiana earlier this week, said White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

“There are more than 25,000 linemen from 32 states and D.C. in the region racing to restore power. And FEMA has staged nearly 250 generators in the region to support impacted areas” Psaki told reporters.