Ida's Wake
GRAND ISLE, LA - SEPTEMBER 3: Joe Woll, left, and his son, Wesley Woll, look through belongings at their storm damaged vacation house after Hurricane Ida on September 3, 2021 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Grand Isle is on southernmost tip of Jefferson Parish about 15 miles east of the storm’s landfall.
Photos by Sean Rayford for Getty Images
Hurricane Ida made landfall August 29 on the southern coast of Louisiana near Port Fourchon — on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. A Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, it tied sustained wind records in Louisiana with two other storms, Last Island Hurricane in 1856 and Hurricane Laura in 2020.
Based on wind speed, Ida was the fifth strongest Hurricane to strike the United States.
GRAND ISLE, LA - SEPTEMBER 3: Storm-damaged houses are reflected in standing water in the wake of Hurricane Ida on September 3, 2021 in Grand Isle. There are about 1,500 permanent residents on the island but the summertime population blossoms to near 20,000 when ‘camp’ owners and visitors flock to the eight mile long land mass.
PONCHATOULA, LA - AUGUST 31: Calvin Henderson stands in the upstairs bathroom at his home, which lost its roof during Ida, on August 31, 2021 in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Henderson says he is too old to make the needed repairs. Ponchatoula is about 50 miles east of Baton Rouge.
HAMMOND, LA - SEPTEMBER 1: A family without power prepares for dinner in their front yard after Hurricane Ida on September 1, 2021 in Hammond, Louisiana. Ida caused more damage to Louisiana’s power distribution system than Hurricanes Katrina, Delta and Zeta combined.
KILN, MS - AUGUST 30: A couple uses a paddle boat to transport their dogs through a flooded neighborhood August 30, 2021 in Kiln, Mississippi. Pronounced “Kill,” the unincorporated community sits along the Jourdan River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico at nearby Bay St. Louis.
HAMMOND, LA - SEPTEMBER 1: A motorist passes under a storm damaged utility line on September 1, 2021 in Hammond, Louisiana. Most of the damage was the result of fallen trees as Hurricane Ida was downgraded to a tropical storm and tracked about 20 miles to the west.
SPRINGFIELD, LA - SEPTEMBER 1: Kim Decota climbs through her in-laws’ storm damaged home on September 1, 2021 in Springfield, Louisiana. With about 500 residents, in Livingston Parish, Springfield is about 7 miles west of Ponchatoula.
GRAND ISLE, LA - SEPTEMBER 3: A motorist drives past storm-damaged houses after Hurricane Ida on September 3, 2021 in Grand Isle. Residents and property owners were allowed to return to the island on Sept. 3-4, but will have to stay away from for for an undetermined length of time, maybe weeks, as basic infrastructure is rebuilt.
HOLDEN, LA - SEPTEMBER 2: A man walks near a General Lee car at the John Schneider Studios on September 2, 2021 in Holden, Louisiana. Schneider is best known for his role as Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Although not used in the series, the vehicle saw time in the film Christmas Cars. “That’s the first car of any kind that I actually jumped. It’s got great sentimental value to me. It’s a stunt car — so it’s actually a Crown Vic with a ’69 Charger body,” says Schneider.
To see more photos visit: Hurricane Ida by Sean Rayford for Getty Images
About the author: Sean Rayford is a South Carolina photojournalist that specializes in hurricane an storm coverage. He equipped to work and live in disaster ares for extended periods of time.