Tropical Storm Ida Cancels Flights Into, Out Of LAX, Locals Help Storm Victims
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Tropical Storm Ida, which slammed Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane Sunday, has cancelled several flights that were scheduled to depart and arrive at LAX Monday.
Ida killed at least one person and left more than a million without power in Louisiana.
Team Rubicon, based in El Segundo, sent volunteers to Louisiana. They are helping to clear access for rescue crews.
"As an example, a road has a fallen tree," said Art DelaCruz, CEO of Team Rubicon. "Search and rescue knows they need to get through. We will be with them to cut our way into the problem set so they can gain access with their equipment and people."
Team Rubicon is a volunteer-based organization that specializes in natural disaster assistance using the help of veterans.
"So they basically drop everything they are doing and take their skills to re-emerge into this ambiguous set," said DelaCruz.
Team Rubicon crews waited out the storm yesterday in Texas and Mississippi so they were ready to launch when the danger passed.
The storm and the damage it left in its wake canceled more than 170 flights out of New Orleans, at least eight that were either into or out of Los Angeles International Airport -- including a Spirit Airlines flight that was scheduled to depart at 6:10 a.m., and seven others that were set to arrive.
However, the storm is continuing a destructive path into southwestern Mississippi and could impact other flights throughout the day.
Travelers should call their airlines to check on their flights before heading out to the airport.
