Crews were working to rescue people trapped by former Hurricane Ida’s floodwaters as utility repair workers moved to try and restore power to over 1 million customers in Louisiana Monday, per AP.
The big picture: NASA Earth said preliminary data suggests the deadly storm was the fifth-strongest storm "ever to make landfall in the continental U.S." when it hit Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane Sunday, leaving New Orleans with no electricity except power from generators.
- The storm weakened to a strong tropical depression on Monday, but it was bringing heavy rains, flash flooding, storm surge and extreme winds as it moved north-northeast across Mississippi, per Axios' Andrew Freedman.
What else is happening: The Louisiana Department of Health reported a second death from the storm on Monday, a man who drowned while trying to get his vehicle through floodwater in New Orleans.
- More than 1 million customers in Louisiana were still without power overnight, per Poweroutage.us.
In photos: Ida pummels Gulf Coast
A car buried under rubble after a building was destroyed by Ida on Aug. 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
A man helps a stranded motorist in floodwaters on Beach Blvd. on August 30, 2021 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Photo: Sean Rayford/Getty Images
Vehicles are damaged after the front of a building collapsed during Hurricane Ida on Aug. 29 in New Orleans. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Pedestrians on Bourbon Street during a citywide power outage caused by Hurricane Ida in New Orleans on Aug. 29. Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Heavy rain falls as storm surge begins to encroach on Louisiana Route 1 ahead of Ida in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, on Aug. 29. Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A cyclist riding through rain and high winds in New Orleans on Aug. 29. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
The storm topples trees in downtown New Orleans on Aug. 29. Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A truck is seen in heavy winds and rain in Bourg, Louisiana, on Aug. 29. Photo: Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images
A section of a building's roof is seen after being blown off during rain and winds in the French Quarter of New Orleans on Aug. 29. Photo: Patrick Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Motorists drive down Canal Street in New Orleans as Hurricane Ida brings heavy rain on Aug. 29. Photo: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Go deeper: Louisiana governor says damage from Hurricane Ida is "catastrophic"