Ida, tied for the fifth-strongest hurricane ever to hit the mainland U.S., shatters the power grid in New Orleans

Ida’s path Monday had taken it inland over portions of Louisiana, Mississippi and western Alabama, an area where torrential rain is continuing to cause flooding. Preliminary measurements showed Slidell, Louisiana, got at least 15.7 inches of rain, while New Orleans received nearly 14 inches, forecasters said. Other parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, Alabama and Florida got 5 to 11 inches.