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Long lines for essentials in New Orleans after Hurricane Ida

Food and fuel are running low, plus the power is still out. It is a hurry up and wait situation for many essentials in New Orleans after Ida.

NEW ORLEANS — As the city dried out, more people were out and about. Yet without power, it is hard to do any daily activities. There is a lot of waiting to just get essentials.

The long lines for gasoline, ignite short tempers for some.

“The chaos at the station, the fact that there is gas available but the confrontations you have to deal with, conflict. I think they need to have more security at the stations. It will be a lot smoother transition. Right now, your patience will be tested,” said one man in line for gas.

Others’ patience was on empty as they waited to fill up their tanks.

“It’s nothing we can do about it. So, we just wait it out and hope there will still be some by the time we get up there,” said one woman waiting in line for gas for a second day.

The line for a food and water distributions was just long as the line for gas. For others, the search for food was a scavenger hunt around the city.

"I would never put my family through this again. Never. It’s the heat, the traffic, trying to find something to eat. It's ridiculous! It is,” said one woman who was driving around trying to find a meal.

It will be a wait for power, as well. Almost 800,000 people are still without electricity. The electric provider said it could take three weeks to restore 90 percent of customers back to full power. The Louisiana governor asked those who left the state to evacuate, not to return because there is little to come back to.

“Do not return here or elsewhere in Southeast Louisiana until the Office of Emergency Preparedness tells you it is ready to receive you,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “The schools are not open, the businesses are not open. The hospitals are slammed. There’s not water in your home and there’s not going to be electricity.”

Time ticks by slowly for the many playing the waiting game--for gas, for food, for power, for a chance to return home.

Many are getting in line early, hours before gas stations and food distributions open. Still many others found there was nothing available at the end of the line.


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