Mobile, Alabama (WALA) – Heavy traffic in Mobile and Baldwin counties today has left the I-10 bumper to bumper in both directions, and there’s a big reason why this is happening. product.

Hurricane Ida evacuees return home … or not.

Kevin Kinsella lives in Metairie, just outside of New Orleans. When Hurricane Ida hit, he decided to weather the storm at home, but now he has no electricity, gas or running water. He packed his bags and headed indefinitely to Orange Beach.

“It’s bad, really bad,” he said. “They don’t expect the electricity to be back for at least 3 weeks, but they won’t tell us, so we can’t risk staying there.”

Another family from Picayune, Mississippi, was heading in the opposite direction. They evacuated on Saturday and returned home.

“I thought we were overreacting because it was a 2, but I was like no, it can easily go up to a 4 or a 5,” said Emily Pigott.

Weighing her options, she didn’t want to risk staying in Mississippi.

“I wasn’t looking forward to being without power for a week and three young children in this late August heat, so we said we’d rather be safe than sorry,” Pigott said.

Kinsella and his wife sent their best wishes to their community.

“Good luck in New Orleans and stay safe and healthy,” he said.

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