Louisianans swelter in aftermath of Hurricane Ida

Damage to ship docking facilities are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida in Port Fourchon, Louisiana (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Hundreds of thousands of Louisianans sweltered in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida with no electricity, no tap water, precious little petrol and no clear idea of when things might improve.

Long lines that wrapped around the block formed at the few petrol stations that had fuel and generator power to pump it. People cleared rotting food out of refrigerators. Neighbours shared generators and borrowed buckets of swimming pool water to bathe or to flush toilets.