Hurricane Ida made landfall as a Category 4 storm, slamming Louisiana’s coastline with 150 mile per hour winds and catastrophic storm surge. One of the strongest storms in Louisiana’s history, Ida left a trail of devastation across the state and triggered a heroic response from emergency personnel, including the Wildlife Agents of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). An all-new special episode of Animal Planet’s Louisiana Law offers a stunning up-close look at the Wildlife Agents’ missions during Hurricane Ida, from the hours leading up to landfall through the aftermath and recovery. LOUISIANA LAW: IN THE EYE OF HURRICANE IDA premieres on Animal Planet Sunday Oct. 10 @ 9PM/ET and streams on discovery+, the definitive non-fiction, real-life subscription streaming service, the same day.
LOUISIANA LAW: IN THE EYE OF HURRICANE IDA features Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Agents conducting search and rescue missions through the floodwaters and wrecked homes. With communications and utilities down, Agents bring their unique skillsets and equipment to the aid of their fellow Louisianans. In the aftermath of the hurricane, agents go door to door on humanitarian missions, getting critical supplies to those who need them the most.
“Louisiana experienced one of the most destructive hurricanes in the state’s history and we felt a responsibility to bring these search and rescue stories to our audiences,” said Amy Introcaso-Davis, Executive Vice President, Development and Production, Factual Programming, Discovery.
“What the public sees in this segment of Louisiana Law is the best example of how our agents immediately answer the call to help the great people of our state during times of disaster, while in some instances, those agents are leaving their own homes and families at risk,” said LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet. “It is gratifying to see the resilience of the people our agents interacted with. They are the best examples of Louisianans who get stronger and battle back, both emotionally and physically, after catastrophes.”
“We are super proud of the job our agents did in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. From search and rescue to humanitarian and security patrols, our agents stepped up and performed their duties to the best of their abilities,” said Colonel Chad Hebert, head of the LDWF Enforcement Division. “This Hurricane Ida special of Louisiana Law showcases the job our agents did and also the spirit of the Louisiana people for the rest of the nation to see.”
In south Louisiana, Sgt. Scott Dupre conducts one last patrol in his St. Mary Parish neighborhood. He’s in the direct path of the storm and must balance protecting his home and family with his response to community search and rescue missions. Sgt. Dupre springs into action when he receives a distress call from injured guests stuck inside a flooded hotel in Houma, Louisiana Cpl. Mike Meserole leaves his family safely behind and joins a convoy of fellow Wildlife Agents heading south to Louisiana’s hardest-hit parishes He and Cpl. Mike Cook to help stranded boat captains clear an obstructed riverway, and assist a trio of shrimpers anxious to see whether their homes survived the hurricane.
Meanwhile, with no power, communications down and live mapping apps rendered useless, Sgt. Leroy Tarver is tasked with navigating unfamiliar flooded neighborhoods to rescue a stranded woman in distress. Sr. Agent Suni Nelson delivers lifesaving supplies to the people of LaPlace, where drinking water is contaminated, and food is scarce.
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