Hurricane Ida evacuations in Louisiana: What we know about recommended, mandatory orders

Hurricane Ida is headed toward Louisiana and expected to make landfall Sunday evening.

Ahead of the storm, officials in Louisiana are already delivering evacuation notices to people in the state.

A mandatory evacuation order has already been issued for New Orleans with recommendations for evacuation in other parts of the state. 

Here is what we know. 

New Orleans mandatory evacuation

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has called for a mandatory evacuation for areas outside of the levee protection system ahead of Hurricane Ida.

Cantrell said residents who choose to evacuate need to do so quickly. 

"This remains a fluid situation, but we will start seeing winds as early as tomorrow," she said during a press conference Friday. 

Collin Arnold, the city's Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said that street flooding, prolonged power outages and fallen trees from tropical storm-force winds are expected. 

Ida is expected to make landfall Sunday night, coinciding with the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Nearly 2,000 people died during Katrina and damage was reportedly $125 billion, according to NOAA.

"We know that Aug. 29 is a very critical date in our city's history and in all of our collective memories but that date has also taught us to be ready and to be resilient and that's what we are going to do," he said.

Port Fourchon issues recommended evacuation

Port Fourchon, a Lafourche Parish service base for most of the Gulf of Mexico oilfield, has issued a recommended evacuation for non-essential personnel ahead of Hurricane Ida.

"Please secure hazards and clear non-essential equipment from facility grounds, prepare office areas to minimize water intrusion damage, secure buildings with storm shutters or plywood over windows and doors, secure fuel tanks and storage areas and remove all small craft that can be hauled or trailered from port facilities and waterways, well away from the effects of possible storm surge and high winds," officials said. "Remember, all vessels remaining in port must be manned."

Voluntary evacuation called for Lafourche

Lafourche Parish officials are enacting a voluntary evacuation for the entire parish ahead of Hurricane Ida.

Residents who live in low-lying areas, mobile homes and RVs are especially vulnerable, parish officials said. 

A shelter in Raceland will open noon Saturday at 221 Recreation Drive.

The parish will continue to monitor the storm as it approaches and will provide updates as they become available.

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Erik Hall is a digital producer for the USA Today Network. You can find him on Twitter @HallErik.