Photos: Scenes From Hurricane Ida's Devastating Path

By Michele Abercrombie,

Nicole Werbeck, Virginia Lozano, Bill Chappell

Published August 30, 2021 at 8:12 AM EDT

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.

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.

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.

The Royal Dutch Shell Plc Norco refinery as Hurricane Ida makes landfall in Norco, Louisiana.

Hotel staff brace a door to keep it from opening in high winds after the hotel lost power in New Orleans.

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.

Vehicles are damaged after the front of a building collapsed during Hurricane Ida in New Orleans.

Firefighters look out the window from a shelter as hurricane Ida passes in Bourg, Louisiana on Sunday.

A news crew reports on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain ahead of approaching Hurricane Ida in New Orleans, Sunday, Aug. 29, 2021.

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.

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.

Rain comes down at a wall of sandbags in Montegut, Louisiana before Hurricane Ida lands on Sunday, Aug. 29.

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.

Firefighters pray together as the hurricane eye wall gets close to the fire station in Bourg, Louisiana on Aug. 29.

Ann Colette Boudreaux comforts her grandson Abel ahead of Hurricane Ida on the morning of Aug. 29, in New Orleans, Louisiana.

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.