LIVE BLOG: Hurricane Ida leaves path of ‘catastrophic’ damage in Houma, Louisiana

(KXAN) — Since making landfall as a Category 4 storm Sunday, Hurricane Ida is now a tropical storm as it continues its path over Louisiana and Mississippi. Once the sun rises on the Gulf Coast towns that were hit the hardest, people will have a chance to survey the “catastrophic” damage the storm left in its wake.

Ida’s landfall came exactly 16 years after Hurricane Katrina left its own trail of destruction through New Orleans and other cities along the Gulf Coast. Ida knocked out all power to New Orleans and the surrounding area Sunday night, and it could take days to get it turned back on.

Stay with KXAN, KXAN.com and if you don’t have it already, download our free KXAN Weather App for forecast updates as we gather new information over the coming days. Interests along the upper Texas coast should stay hurricane-aware just in case

There is at least one death associated with the storm, although the number is expected to rise once crews can assess damages. The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook that deputies responded to a home in Prairieville on a report of someone injured by a fallen tree. The person, who was not identified, was pronounced dead. Prairieville is a suburb of Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s capital city.

To see all of our updates from Sunday on Hurricane Ida, visit the now-retired live blog. All further updates will appear below:

6 p.m.

While driving west on their way back to Texas, the KXAN crew stumbled upon more than 50 coach buses lined up in Lafayette, Louisiana, heading to the coast to evacuate thousands of people who are stranded. It’s a FEMA-led effort, and each bus holds about 85 people, according to Chief Meteorologist David Yeomans.

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5:30 p.m.

Personnel and equipment from the Austin Fire Department were deployed to help areas affected by the devastation from Hurricane Ida.

One area deeply affected by the storm is Houma, Louisiana. It’s one of the biggest cities in Terrebonne Parish. Chief Meteorologist David Yeomans sent the below photos back depicting serious damage to buildings from the storm.

10 a.m.

Round Rock firefighter Gunther von Seltmann, a battalion chief for the Round Rock Fire Department, is in Louisiana helping local first responders with search and rescue efforts as part of the Texas State Task Force 1. They traveled to some of the hardest-hit places in Louisiana after Hurricane Ida tore through Gulf Coast cities to provide specialized equipment and training, aiding in relief and recovery efforts.

8:15 a.m.

With the sun up, the world is getting a better glimpse at widespread destruction along the Louisiana Gulf Coast after Ida, now a tropical storm as it travels further inland, slammed into towns as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday.

NBC correspondents Sam Brock and Jay Gray were on the ground in Louisiana giving us a look at just some of the damage.

6 a.m.

Photos from Sunday night and early Monday morning after Ida ripped through Louisiana tell the story. Its 150 mph winds made it the fifth-strongest storm to ever make landfall in the U.S. mainland.