Hurricane Ida traps Louisianians; more than 1 million in two states left without power

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Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. utility / yuˈtɪl ɪ ti / (n.) – an important service that’s provided for public use such as water or electricity
    Example:

    I pay my rent and utility bills at the end of the month.


  2. ravage / ˈræv ɪdʒ / (v.) – to cause extreme damage or harm to something
    Example:

    The town was ravaged by a tornado.


  3. stifling / ˈstaɪ flɪŋ / (adj.) – uncomfortably hot and humid, sometimes causing difficulty in breathing
    Example:

    The heat during the Summer Olympics was stifling.


  4. bayou / ˈbaɪ u / (n.) – a body of water where there are a lot of plants and the water moves slowly
    Example:

    We went to a bayou when we were in Louisiana.


  5. levee / ˈlɛv i / (n.) – a wall of soil or other materials built along a riverside to prevent floods
    Example:

    The levees haven’t been touched in many years. I’m worried about all the heavy rain in next week’s forecast.


Article

Read the text below.

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks brought hundreds of people trapped by Hurricane Ida’s floodwaters to safety Aug. 30, and utility repair crews rushed in after the furious storm swamped the Louisiana coast and ravaged the electrical grid in the stifling, late-summer heat.


Residents living amid the maze of rivers and bayous along the state’s Gulf Coast retreated desperately to attics and roofs and posted their addresses on social media with instructions for search-and-rescue teams on where to find them.


More than 1 million homes and businesses in Louisiana and Mississippi — including all of New Orleans — were left without power as Ida, one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to hit the U.S. mainland, pushed through Aug. 29.


The damage was so extensive that officials warned it could be weeks before the power grid was repaired.


The hurricane blew ashore on the 16th anniversary of Katrina, the 2005 storm that breached New Orleans levees, devastated the city and was blamed for 1,800 deaths. (AP)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Residents posted their addresses on social media with instructions for search-and-rescue teams on where to find them. Do you think posting personal information publicly on social media sites during emergencies is a good idea? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • If you saw people asking for help on social media sites, what, if anything, would you do to help them? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The damage was so extensive that officials warned it could be weeks before the power grid was repaired. Do you think that’s an acceptable length of time to not have electricity? What should residents do during that time (ex. use candles for light and cook outside, stay at a hotel in a different area)? Discuss.
  • How long do you think you could live without electricity? Are blackouts common in your area? Why or why not? Discuss.