President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for Mississippi and ordered federal assistance for the state the day before Hurricane Ida evolved into a Category 4 storm early Sunday, sending sustained winds of 150 mph, according to CNN. “We have issued an Extreme Wind Warning for Hurricane #Ida,” the National Weather Service New Orleans said in a tweet. “If you are still in LA or MS, you need to shelter in place. Winds will be between 115-150 mph.” CNN reported a dozen casinos closed along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and at least 15 school districts and university campuses planning to close on Monday. 

New Orleans Health Department Director Jennifer Avegno told CNN hospitals will be sheltering in place. “I would ask our residents, if you do not need to go to the hospital this weekend, if you do not have a life-threatening emergency, please do not go,” Avegno said. “This is not the time to go to the hospital for a routine thing that could wait until later.”

Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 · 3:07:21 PM +00:00 · Lauren Floyd

Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 storm. Ida is expected to be less threatening than Katrina but still damaging, according to The New York Times. Ida’s possible storm surge is between 12 and 16 feet. “Fifteen-foot sure can do a lot of damage,” Louisiana State Climatologist Barry Keim told the newspaper. “But it’s going to be nothing in comparison with Katrina’s surge.”

New Orleans officials are reporting technical difficulties to the 911 line. Residents are asked to call 504-821-2222 for emergencies.

Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 · 3:14:56 PM +00:00 · Lauren Floyd

Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 · 4:33:53 PM +00:00 · Lauren Floyd

The National Hurricane Center reported a wind gust of 104 mph and a sustained wind of 89 mph at Southwest Pass, Louisiana at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Regional curfews are in effect across South Louisiana, WBRZ reported. Ida contines to rise at Jones Park in Gulfport, Mississippi, meteorologist Brantly Keiek tweeted. “Small Craft Harbor and portions of the Port of Gulfport are submerged,” he added.

Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 · 5:16:51 PM +00:00 · Lauren Floyd

Hurricane Ida reached landfall as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds estimated at 150 mph near Port Fourchon in Louisiana, the National Hurricane Center reported at 12:55 EST. “A NOAA National Ocean Service tide gauge in Shell Beach, Louisiana, recently reported a water level of 6.4 feet above mean higher high water, which is an approximation of inundation in that area,” the National Hurricane Center said in its update.

Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 · 5:31:51 PM +00:00 · Lauren Floyd

The National Weather Service in New Orleans is reporting “life-threatening storms surge” already impacting most of the coast. “Surge along coastal LA west of the MS river are unreliable at this time as they are likely gone,” the weather service said in a tweet. “East we continue to see Shell Beach and Waveland rise rapidly. Move to higher ground NOW if in these areas”

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans tweeted: “A number of our Sewage Pump Stations on both the East and West Bank of New Orleans are experiencing power outages. This increases the potential for sewer backups in homes. We urge those residents who still have power to minimize wastewater leaving their homes by not running… your dishwasher or washing clothes. These stations will be out of service until the storm passes and it is safe for us to make assessments.”

Watch live updates from the National Weather Service here:

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            Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 ·  7:38:25 PM +00:00

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      Lauren Floyd
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    Following the <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1432028514794962944">suspension of emergency services</a> in New Orleans due to high winds, a spokeswoman with the Federal Emergency Management Agency <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1432057984901918722?s=20">told Bloomberg News</a> "3.5 million meals, 139,000 tarps and 2.5 million liters of water have been shipped to staging locations to help Hurricane Ida response." Twenty-two federal agencies “are supporting efforts, 16 urban search and rescue teams and 200 ambulances are in transit,” journalist Jennifer Jacobs tweeted.

She reported that President Biden has arrived at FEMA headquarters in Washington D.C. for a briefing on Hurricane Ida. “We are expecting catastrophic impacts from this,” Deanne Criswell, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told Bloomberg News of the hurricane.

Watch the president’s remarks live:

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            Sunday, Aug 29, 2021 ·  8:01:01 PM +00:00

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      Lauren Floyd
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    "We're ready to surge all the response capacity, capability that we have to deal with whatever comes next," Biden said, "and a lot's going to be coming." The president said, offering “full resources and support of the federal government” that he's been in touch with the governors of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and his team has been in touch with other state, local, and federal officials in the region.

“So I want to emphasize again, this is going to be a devastating, a devastating hurricane,” Biden said, “a life-threatening storm.” He urged those in Mississippi, Louisiana, and other areas to “take precautions,” listen, and “take it seriously.”