HOUSTON — Hurricane Ida slammed into Louisiana as a category four storm on Sunday, and one of the cities that sustained the most damage was New Orleans. It caused major flooding, and nearly the entire city could be without power for weeks. Ida was the strongest hurricane to hit New Orleans since Katrina — 16 years to the day on Aug. 29.
As Ida moves its way into Mississippi and Tennessee, the rebuilding process for New Orleans has begun. And Houston Texans’ running back Mark Ingram doesn’t doubt the city’s strength to recover.
“Thinking about them and thoughts and prayers are with them,” Ingram said following practice on Monday. “I know that community is strong, and I know they will fight through this. They have been through so much over the years. And with the help of leaders of the community, I’m sure they will make sure that community is as strong and as tight as ever.”
Ingram acknowledges New Orleans as the place that helped him grow into the man he is today. The New Orleans Saints selected Ingram as a 22-year-old running back out of Alabama during the 28th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft. He spent eight seasons with the Saints, where he became a two-time Pro-Bowler who rushed for 6,007 yards and 50 touchdowns.
New Orleans was the place where he met his wife, and three of his children were born. Ingram says he plans to participate in hurricane relief efforts for the city while working with his close friend and current Saints Pro Bowler Cam Jordan.
“Cam and I were talking about it [Sunday],” he said. “Anyway, I could partner with him. Partner with any of my former teammates. Partner with friends and family that I have there now. I’ll be there because you know I love Louisiana. They always had my back when I was there, and I will have their back the same way.”
Due to the impact of Ida, the Saints are currently in Dallas using AT&T Stadium as their practice facility, while the Texans opened the doors of NRG Stadium to the LSU Tigers.