Ida Could Overwhelm Already-Strained Health Care System

Hurricane Ida left New Orleans and a million people without power, possibly for three weeks.

Now the remnants of the then-Category 4 event, downgraded to a tropical depression Monday as it moved inland, threatens to bring weather-related heartache to a Tennessee Valley already under duress from a COVID-19 surge that is straining the health care system.

Tropical Depression Ida is projected to trek through North Alabama on its way to the East Coast, promising heavy rains and possible tornadoes. A flash flood warning was issued 1 p.m. Monday and will remain in effect until 1 a.m. Wednesday.

“The main threat is flooding,’’ said Jeff Birdwell, director of the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency. “Basically, heavy rain and a lot of rain is our biggest threat. They’re looking at two to four inches locally with some higher amount amounts.’’

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The path of Ida appears to travel just west of Huntsville. Weather forecasts warn that east of the path is where tornadoes are likely to occur.

“Maybe Tuesday afternoon,’’ Birdwell said. “And then, on into the evening hours there, looking at the possibility of rapidly developing tornadoes embedded, within some of the squall line. “(Tornado threats) will be east, which would put it in our neighborhood.’’

With Intensive Care Unit beds mostly full around the county and statewide, and with medical resources stressed to limits, the possibility of flooding and tornadoes are concerning Birdwell.

“Take the messages and be weather aware,’’ Birdwell said. “Make sure you go, you know, your shelter. Go wherever your plan has you to shelter and don’t don’t take things lightly. Like I said, any addition to our health caresSystem right now is not a good thing.’’

Local hospitals have dropped in recent days with an 86 percent ICU-bed capacity. A high rate of 14 percent is occupied by COVID-19 patients.

ICU patients in Madison County are using 71 percent of the ventilators available with COVID-19 patients on 26 percent of those ventilators.