Hurricane Ida

• Date and Location and severity of Hurricane Ida

  • Caribbean and US (mainly Louisiana)
  • Made landfall on the 26th August 2021
  • Three days later, on the 29th August, Ida reached the state of Louisiana on the US coast.
  • Category 4 hurricane 
• Preparation for Hurricane Ida


  • Strong flood defences - levees did withstand
  • 500 employees were deployed to Louisiana and Texas ahead of Hurricane Ida. Additionally, more than 2,000 FEMA employees were deployed to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
  • On the 27th August FEMA sent out a warning stating that the hurricane could be life threatening 
  • People were prepared with food supplies and knew their evacuation routes 
• Primary Impacts of Hurricane Ida 


  • Wind speeds of 277km/h 
  • between 120 and 250 mm of rainfall to Louisiana. 
  • 115 killed across the Caribbean and the US
  • Fallen trees and flooding affect habitats
  • Coastal wetlands and beaches were damaged, exposing the coast to further erosion and impacting wildlife.
• Secondary Impacts of Hurricane Ida


  • 1 million without power 
  • Cost $65 billion in damages 
  • 479 sq km sugarcane in Louisiana destroyed (26%)
  • 90% oil production in the Gulf of Mexico stopped
  • Over 800,000 people affected by food and fuel shortage  
  • Roads, train lines and other transport infrastructure became unusable due to flooding, resulting in disruptions to travel and trade
  • A large oil spill was caused due to damage to an offshore drilling site in the Gulf of Mexico. The led to water pollution and the destruction of marine habitats.
• Immediate Responses of Hurricane Ida


  • Stronger flood defences so saved many lives 
  • 5000 national guard members help sent
  • 25,000 workers from around the country to helped restore power and support recovery
• Long-term responses of Hurricane Ida


  • Investments made in flood prevention and coastal protection schemes such as seawalls will be essential. 
  • Careful consideration needs to be given to the use of land particularly in low-lying areas
  • Local people and emergency teams will need training in how to respond to tropical storm events, ensuring a coordinated and planned response.