Storm "Ida" has turned into a hurricane and swept across Cuba.
Now it is approaching the US coast - and is getting stronger and stronger.
New Orleans - The USA * is preparing for Hurricane "Ida".
The storm swept over the island nation of Cuba as a level one hurricane.
He first hit land on the Cuban island of Isla de la Juventud - with wind speeds of up to 130 kilometers per hour.
In the Cuban capital Havana there were power outages as a result of hurricane "Ida".
Trees were uprooted by the winds.
Thousands of people had to be evacuated from Havana.
Local public transport came to a standstill.
Hurricane "Ida" approaches the US coast - memories of "Katrina" are awakened
The US state hurricane center (NHC) warned against "Ida". The hurricane could become a life-threatening storm surge in western Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, including heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides. According to the prognoses of the NHC, "Ida" will probably move across the Gulf of Mexico from Saturday night (local time), gain strength there and reach the US coast on Sunday in the US state of Louisiana as a dangerously strong hurricane. According to news channel CNN, Ida could grow into a level 3 or 4 hurricane during this period.
The US city of New Orleans could also be hit by Hurricane Ida.
It was hit * and devastated by Hurricane Katrina 16 years ago.
"Katrina" is considered to be one of the worst natural disasters in the United States.
1,833 people were killed as a result of the storm.
Hurricane Ida is the fourth this season
In Louisiana, Governor John Bel Edwards has already declared a state of emergency due to the approaching hurricane "Ida".
He mobilized the National Guard and appealed to the population to take the necessary precautions.
Widespread power outages and floods are to be expected.
President Joe Biden * also declared a state of emergency.
This means that additional help can be mobilized and paid for quickly.
A tropical cyclone is considered a hurricane from 119 kilometers per hour, the fourth of the five stages is reached at at least 209 kilometers per hour, the highest from 252 kilometers per hour. The hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June to November. It was particularly intense last year. According to the NHC, the cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin has so far been well above average this year as well. According to experts, the increasing intensity of tropical cyclones, which need warm water to form, is a consequence of climate change. "Ida" is the fourth hurricane of the season in the Atlantic. (Daniel Dillmann with dpa)
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