Two Days After Ida

9/2/2021

Storyboard - September 1, 2021

1000 block of Royal Street, September 1, just two days after Ida roared through. A few people on the street - mostly residents, business owners and workman – starting cleanup. Lots of garbage bags on the street from emptied refrigerators, but thankfully not a lot of major damage apparent! Parts of the French Quarter had electricity restored later that night. photo by Ellis Anderson

Hurricane Ida rampaged across South Louisiana, slamming New Orleans with a glancing blow that wreaked unprecedented damage to the power grid. Follow us through the French Quarter just two days later.

- photos by Ellis Anderson, Betsy Fabry and Bill Huls

Toulouse at Decatur Street

Royal Street around Conti

We spotted several massive generators like this one.

Bourbon Street

No apparently exterior damage at Preservation Hall

Chartres Street, looking toward Esplanade. A surprising number of plants on balconies made it through relatively unscathed, while more exposed trees like those in Jackson Square had a tougher go of it.

These signs in one restaurant window reflect the frustrations of trying to make plans and schedules under current conditions.

The fire station on Esplanade Avenue had become an active relief station.

The deserted French Market became a bicycle thoroughfare

These Esplanade Avenue residents were enjoying the afternoon in the shade of their street level garage.

Parts of the neutral ground on Esplanade Avenue resembled a jungle.

Ronnie Maravich may be the brother of the late legendary basketball star Pete Maravich, but in the French Quarter his celebrity comes from being longtime bartender at Harry's Corner.

Joan of Arc seems to be leading the charge for restored power. On the evening of September 1, just two days after the storm roared through, some parts of the city - including the French Quarter, had power.

Longtime French Quarter resident and photographer Betsy Fabry caught some of the first lights coming back on around 9pm on September 1 - just two days after Ida. Many had been predicting it'd be weeks before power was restored to the central parts of the city.

Longtime French Quarter resident and photographer Betsy Fabry caught some of the first lights coming back on around 9pm on September 1 - just two days after Ida.

Photo of the "touchdown Jesus" in the back of the St. Louis Cathedral by longtime French Quarter resident and photographer, Bill Huls.

Find more features and stories on our journal's home page!

Appreciate our coverage of the French Quarter neighborhood? Reader donations make it possible.

Like all small businesses in New Orleans, French Quarter Journal has been struggling, reeling between pandemic waves and disasters. We're completely sponsor and reader supported. Please consider donating now to help pay our writers and support staff. Thank you!