9-3-21
Four days after Hurricane Ida struck, the storm’s aftermath and progress in recovering from it are being felt unevenly across Louisiana. In New Orleans, power was restored Wednesday to a small number of homes and businesses, city crews had some streets almost completely cleared of fallen trees and debris and a few corner stores reopened. A revamped levee system protected New Orleans from catastrophic flooding after Ida struck on Sunday with 150 mph winds. Outside New Orleans, neighborhoods remained flooded and residents were still reeling from damage to their homes and property.
The White House says President Joe Biden will visit Louisiana on Friday to survey storm damage from Hurricane Ida. Biden will also deliver a speech Thursday outlining his administration’s response to the storm. It was the fifth most powerful storm to strike the U.S. when it hit Louisiana on Sunday, likely causing tens of billions of dollars in flood, wind and other damage, including to the electrical grid. Friday’s visit will cap a difficult stretch for the president, following the chaotic exit of the U.S. military from Afghanistan and the deaths of 13 U.S. service members helping evacuate Americans and U.S. allies.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL WELCOME ANY DISPLACED STUDENTS FROM HURRICANE IDA. SYSTEM SPOKESPERSON ALLISON DICKINSON SAYS PARENTS WISHING TO ENROLL STUDENTS INTO LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOLS CAN DO SO BEGINNING THIS TUESDAY. THEY CAN REGISTER THEIR STUDENT OR STUDENTS AT THE VERMILLION CONFERENCE CENTER ON GAUTHIER ROAD ON THE WEEKDAYS BETWEEN EIGHT AND TWO. STAFF MEMBERS FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM’S DISPLACED AND HOMELESS EDUCATION SERVICES WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST FAMILIES AS NEEDED.
SAINT MARY PARISH SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE CHANGED THEIR MINDS ABOUT REOPENING CLASSROOMS TODAY. INSTEAD SCHOOLS WILL REOPEN ON TUESDAY IN THE PARISH. SUPERINTENDENT TERESA BAGWELL SAYS THE DECISION WAS MADE TO EXTEND THE CLOSURE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF RELIABLE COMMUNICATION IN THE PARISH AS WELL AS FUEL SUPPLIES.
CICI’S PIZZA IN LAKE CHARLES IS OFFERING FREE FOOD AND DRINKS TO RESIDENTS WHO EVACUATED FROM SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA BECAUSE OF HURRICANE IDA. ASSISTANT MANAGER BREANNA FONTENOT SAYS SHE REMEMBERS WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO WISH FOR A FRESH HOT MEAL AFTER HURRICANE LAURA LAST YEAR. FONTENOT TELLS KPLC TV THAT THEY ARE THANKFUL THEY CAN NOW GIVE BACK. CICI’S IS REQUIRING A VALID LOUISIANA I-D SHOWING THE PERSON IS FROM ONE OF THE AFFECTED AREAS OR, IF THEY HAVE NO I-D, SOMETHING THAT PROVES THEY ARE FROM THE AFFECTED AREAS.
GERALD GRUENIG FROM TV-TEN HAS THE LATEST COVID NUMBERS.
VOICER I :20
TONIGHT THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL DISCUSS A REQUEST FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT REQUIRING STAFF TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION AND THAT THEY SUBMIT TO WEEKLY TESTING. SUPERINTENDENT PATRICK JENKINS SAYS THIS IS NOT A VACCINE MANDATE. HE SAYS THEY WANT TO HAVE THE VACCINE INFORMATION SO THEY WILL KNOW IF A TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER CAN STAY IN SCHOOL IN CASE OF DIRECT CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED PERSON. HE SAYS THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE ONLY DEPARTMENT WITH ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
MOTORISTS IN LAFAYETTE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR DELAYS AT THE AMBASSADOR CAFFERY AND DULLES INTERSECTION. BEGINNING TUESDAY, A NEW RIGHT HAND TURN LANE FROM AMBASSADOR TO DULLES WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT THAT INTERSECTION, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO HELP WITH TRAFFIC FLOW. THE CONSTRUCTION IS ANTICIPATED TO LAST TWO MONTHS. THE SOUTHBOUND OUTSIDE LANE WILL BE CLOSED DURING CONSTRUCTIONAND DRIVERS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO DULLES.
