22 Barges Break Loose As Hurricane Ida Pummels New Orleans

As Hurricane Ida pummeled Louisiana Sunday (August 29) afternoon, nearly two dozen barges were knocked loose from their mooring.

According to WWL-TV, 22 barges broke loose as the dangerous Category 4 hurricane hit St. Bernard Parish after making landfall along the coast with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. After getting free from their moorings, St. Bernard Parish officials confirmed that the barges were drifting loose in the Mississippi River. The main concern officials have in regards to the loose barges is their potential impact on the parish's water intake system and the oil refineries.

Around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, a passenger ferry for the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority detached from a barge at its maintenance facility, also breaking free into the Mississippi before ultimately running aground, The New Orleans Advocate | The Times-Picayune reports. The RTA2 ferry is a new vessel that runs between the east and west bank.

"The vessel is currently grounded and our contract ferry operator continues to monitor the situation," the RTA said. "Emergency tug boats have been secured to retrieve the vessel when it is safe to do so."

WWL first reported that the ferry broke loose Sunday afternoon, sharing unnerving footage of the ferry captured by St. Bernard Coastal Director Jane Lane. The video can be seen below.