NJ group to help shelter animals as “extremely dangerous” Hurricane Ida passes

An animal welfare group based in southern Jersey is helping shelters in Louisiana, where Hurricane Ida is expected to hit the area this weekend.

The Animal Welfare Association of Voorhees said it plans to welcome several dogs as part of a network of New Jersey shelters that provide housing, medical care and adoption services during hurricane season.

“This partnership ensures that dogs and cats are not at risk in flooded cages like what happened with Hurricane Katrina,” the association said.

Gulf Coast dogs are expected to arrive at the shelter on Saturday ahead of Ida’s scheduled arrival as a Category 4 storm.

“A lot of dogs and cats come in scared (…) our trainer is able to help them overcome whatever they’ve been through so that they can be adopted by caring families,” said the animal association. in a press release.

The shelters have made plans to save the animals from dangerous weather conditions, said Maya Richmond, executive director of AWA, who highlighted the “horrendous” conditions of animals left in flooded shelters after Hurricane Katrina.

“We are fortunate that today shelters have pre-storm evacuation plans that allow them to keep pets in their care and make room for pets. immediately moved and rescued, ”Richmond added.

Ida is predicted to strike on the same day, 16 years ago, that Katrina unleashed widespread destruction in the region.

“Steady to rapid strengthening is expected as Ida moves over the southeast and central Gulf of Mexico over the weekend, and Ida is expected to be an extremely dangerous major hurricane as it approaches the northern coast of Mexico. gulf Sunday, ”the National Weather Service told the National Hurricane. Center said in a report Friday afternoon.

“We should be prepared for inclement weather,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told reporters at a briefing Friday. A state of emergency was in place for the state as New Orleans officials ordered evacuations in parts of the city, where the storm surge could reach 11 feet.

The forecast shows maximum sustained winds of 80 mph with higher gusts as the storm approaches. Category 4 hurricanes carry 130 to 156 gusts and cause “catastrophic damage,” according to the weather service.

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Noah Cohen can be reached at [email protected].