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Hurricane Ida Death Toll: First Fatality From Cat 4 Storm In Louisiana, Another Injured

One person has died of injuries sustained after a tree fell on a resident in Prairieville, Louisiana, marking the first death from the catastrophic Hurricane Ida.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death Sunday night, after deputies responded to the scene.

In Lafourche Parish, a man was rescued by Sheriff’s Office deputies after a tree fell on him as he attempted to secure property outside his home.

“Despite the fact that we had pulled all emergency services off the highway because of high wind, we did have a couple of brave deputies that did go out there, rescue him and pull the tree off and they were able to get him to the hospital for treatment. And he did survive,” said Captain Brennan Matherne, the public information officer for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.

Officials expect reports of injuries to grow as first responders begin to survey damage and search and rescue operations kick into gear Monday morning.

Louisiana has deployed more than 1,600 people to conduct search and rescue operations, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Monday morning.

Copyright 2021 WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio. To see more, visit WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio.

Rosemary Westwood is the public reporter for WWNO/WRKF. She was previously a freelance writer specializing in gender and reproductive rights, a radio producer, columnist, magazine writer and podcast host.