Montegut and Bourg firefighters cut through trees on the road in Bourg, Louisiana as Hurricane Ida passes on August 29, 2021.
Updated August 29, 2021 at 11:24 PM ET
The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Ida made U.S. landfall as a category 4 storm with 150 mph winds near Port Fourchon, Louisiana on Sunday afternoon.
Hurricane Ida nearly doubled in strength in a day, fueled by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This is the second year in a row that a hurricane with 150 mph winds has hit Louisiana.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says it will be the strongest storm to hit Louisiana since the 1850s. Ida strikes on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, blamed for 1,800 deaths in 2005. Ida will be a test for an elaborate new flood protection system designed to protect New Orleans from the devastating levee breaches back then.
The past few days saw residents of Louisiana preparing for the storm with many people evacuating while others are sheltering in place. Here is a look at the area.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.
A man passes by a section of roof that was blown off of a building in the French Quarter by Hurricane Ida winds, Sunday, Aug. 29, in New Orleans.
Eric Gay / AP
Montegut fire chief Toby Henry walks back to his fire truck in the rain as firefighters cut through trees on the road in Bourg, Louisiana as Hurricane Ida passes on Sunday, Aug. 29.
Mark Felix / AFP via Getty Images
The Royal Dutch Shell Plc Norco refinery as Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Norco, Louisiana.
Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Hotel staff brace a door to keep it from opening in high winds after the hotel lost power in New Orleans.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Heavy rain falls as storm surge begins to encroach on Louisiana Route 1 ahead of Hurricane Ida in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, U.S., on Sunday, Aug. 29.
Luke Sharrett / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Vehicles are damaged after the front of a building collapsed during Hurricane Ida in New Orleans.
Scott Olson / Getty Images
Firefighters look out the window from a shelter as hurricane Ida passes in Bourg, Louisiana on Sunday.
Mark Felix / AFP via Getty Images
A news crew reports on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain ahead of approaching Hurricane Ida in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021.
Gerald Herbert / AP
A person pushes a shopping cart through rain and high winds past a closed restaurant on Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on Aug. 29 during Hurricane Ida.
Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
People do last-minute shopping ahead of Hurricane Ida on Sunday morning, Aug. 29, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Residents of New Orleans continue to prepare as the outer bands of the hurricane begin to cut across the city.
Brandon Bell / Getty Images
Rain comes down at a wall of sandbags in Montegut, Louisiana before Hurricane Ida lands on Sunday, Aug. 29.
Mark Felix / AFP via Getty Images
Heavy traffic clogs Interstate 10 out of New Orleans as residents and visitors evacuate for the expected arrival of Hurricane Ida Saturday, Aug. 28, in Slidell, La.
Steve Helber / AP
Firefighters pray together as the hurricane eye wall gets close to the fire station in Bourg, Louisiana on Aug. 29.
Mark Felix / AFP via Getty Images
Ann Colette Boudreaux comforts her grandson Abel ahead of Hurricane Ida on the morning of Aug. 29, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Brandon Bell / Getty Images
High winds blow palm trees as Entergy Corp. electric utility company bucket trucks are staged on Canal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on Aug. 29 during Hurricane Ida.