The Big Apple is lending Baton Rouge a helping hand after Hurricane Ida slammed Louisiana’s capital with torrential downpours and some of the strongest winds to ever hit the state.
The Category 4 storm, with winds reaching 150 mph, slammed Louisiana on Sunday, leading to blackouts in New Orleans and forcing Baton Rouge Airport to cancel almost all of its flights Sunday morning.
New York City will send aid to the hurricane-battered state capital in the form of 83 cops and firefighters, as well as equipment used to search and evacuate homes hit by high-force winds.
“We have sent an urban search and rescue team — New York Task Force One — to Baton Rouge to help the people of Louisiana who are going through so much right now,” Mayor de Blasio said Monday morning. “We always want to help cities that have been through a lot, like we’ve been through.”
De Blasio said his administration made the decision to help out after the federal government asked for assistance. Hizzoner noted that the city’s 83 first responders are expected to arrive in Baton Rouge on Monday night.
The city is also sending four water rescue boats with equipment for collapsed buildings.
“Everyone knows the NYPD and FDNY have the best professionals in the entire country,” de Blasio said. “We’re getting them out there to help the people of Louisiana.”
_____
©2021 New York Daily News.
Visit nydailynews.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
