Hurricane Ida left widespread destruction across St. Charles Parish in August 2021, with every structure impacted and weeks-long power outages in some areas.
Parish President Matthew Jewell described the storm as the worst hurricane to ever hit the parish, saying, “Every structure was impacted by that storm and the devastation it brought.”
Five years later, Jewell said he still sees the scars of the storm but also recognizes progress. “The school system was able… in the courthouse,” he said.
In St. John Parish, Parish President Jaclyn Hotard also noted improvements. “We’ve been able to elevate homes and make so many improvements, and those improvements are visible,” Hotard said.
Other areas, including Grand Isle, Lafitte, and Lafourche, have spent billions in recovery funds to rebuild.
In New Orleans, while the damage was less severe, prolonged power outages led Entergy New Orleans to harden the grid. In a written statement, the company said, “We are working to complete the first phase of a $100 million grid hardening program, upgrading more than 3,100 structures across the city. We look forward to working with the City Council to continue this work and to keep making the grid stronger.”
READ MORE:St. Charles Parish marks five years of recovery after Hurricane Ida
