Daily Briefing: What we know now about Hurricane Ida

This Sunday evening, all eyes are on the monstrous Hurricane Ida. USA TODAY is tracking the storm closely, and you can rely on Daily Briefing to bring you the latest on Ida, delivered to your inbox. Forward to friends and family who may need this as a resource. They can sign up here.

Here's what we know now

Powerful Hurricane Ida slammed onto the Louisiana coast on Sunday, a Category 4 storm wielding winds of 150 mph, life-threatening storm surge and potentially catastrophic rainfall.

The storm first crashed ashore near Port Fourchon, less than 100 miles south of New Orleans. A short time later it made a second landfall a few miles to the north, near Galliano.

Power is now out in more than 500,000 homes and businesses in the state, according to the tracking website poweroutage.us.

What's next?

The National Hurricane Center said the hurricane will bring "life-threatening flash and urban flooding and significant riverine flooding impacts" to southeast Louisiana into far southern Mississippi. The images people are tweeting are intense.

A flash flood warning is in effect in New Orleans and its surroundings, according to the National Weather Service.

"There's no doubt we'll see extreme devastation," Gov. John Bel Edwards said Sunday afternoon.

Hurricane force winds will continue to lash the state into Monday morning.

How to track the storm 

• For all updates on Hurricane Ida, visit this article for the latest information. 
• Follow USA TODAY's Storm Tracker to see the trajectory of Ida as it moves inland.
• If you are in Louisiana or in the storm's path, the USA TODAY Network has set up free SMS texting as a resource to provide you news updates and access to journalists on your phone.
• If you are having trouble loading this page amid power outages, bookmark this text-only article for storm updates.

How is this different than Katrina?

Hurricane Katrina, which flooded most of New Orleans, killing almost 2,000 people, made landfall 16 years ago to the day as a Category 3 storm.

Edwards said the storm could be the most powerful to pound the state in more than 160 years. 

Edwards said levees rebuilt in the wake of Katrina should stand up to the challenge and help minimize the carnage. The flood protection system in New Orleans underwent a $14 billion upgrade after failing during Katrina.

What is the national response?

President Joe Biden, speaking at the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Response Coordination Center in Washington, said the damage is likely to be "immense."

He said resources, equipment and response teams were prepositioned and urged residents to follow the instructions of emergency officials and first responders.

What does this look like so far?

See more photos here. 

We'll update you with the latest tomorrow morning.