Post-Ida New Orleans is facing triple-digit heat with no power, little gas, scarce tap water

As southeastern Louisiana worked to clean up the mess of Hurricane Ida, the heat arrived. "Temperatures rose along with tempers on Tuesday amid dwindling access to gas, groceries, and patience across the greater New Orleans region, as an extended period without electricity began to take its toll in Hurricane Ida's wake," The New Orleans Advocate reports. There are worse things than hunting for supplies in heat-index temperatures of 106 degrees without power or water, but it isn't pleasant.
"I love my city. I'm built for this. But I can't make it without any air conditioning," Renell Debose, who spent a week suffering in the Superdome 16 years ago after Hurricane Katrina, told Politico while waiting in line for gas at Costco. Shelly Huff, also waiting in line, said she has "great neighbors — one who evacuated left us a generator" — but any longer than a week without power "and I'm going have to get out of town."
New Orleans resident Algon Greenberry told The Associated Press he'll "make it through" the heat, even if he can't obtain a generator to run air conditioning.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D), touring the area with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Tuesday, said about 25,000 line workers are hustling to restore power to the more than a million customers without, but "we have a lot of work ahead of us and no one is under the illusion that this is going to be a short process." Entergy initially predicted it could take weeks or even a month to get power restored — all eight of its main transmission lines to New Orleans failed — but the utility told New Orleans officials on Tuesday that some parts of the city could get power back on as soon as Wednesday night.
Federal officials said about 441,000 people across the region have no running water, and 319,000 more were under boil-water advisories. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the city is setting up centers to distribute water and food, charge electronics, and cool off from the heat, and she put New Orleans under curfew Tuesday night, citing "several" looting incidents.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The FTC is pushing back against false 'Made in USA' claims
The Explainer The agency has dubbed July 2025 "Made in the USA" month
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodge
Speed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Secret Service 'failures' on Trump shooting
Speed Read Two new reports detail security breakdowns that led to attempts on the president's life
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodge
Speed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Why are flash floods in Texas so deadly?
Today's Big Question Over 100 people, including 27 girls at a summer camp, died in recent flooding
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floods
Speed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
This Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be above average
Under the radar Prepare for strong storms in the coming months
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star program
speed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
-
US proposes eroding species protections
Speed Read The Trump administration wants to change the definition of 'harm' in the Environmental Protection Act to allow habitat damage
-
Severe storms kill dozens across central US
Speed Read At least 40 people were killed over the weekend by tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
-
Rain helps Los Angeles wildfires, risks mudslides
Speed Read The weather provided relief for crews working to contain wildfires, though rain over a burn area ups the chances of flooding and mudslides