Hurricane Ida’s Impact

November 17, 2009

Hurricane Ida, the ninth of the season, caused 175 deaths in El Salvador, with 60 people still missing, and led to over 2,000 damaged or destroyed buildings, as well as floods, mudslides and more than 100 landslides.

The country’s communications director for the government’s rescue efforts said that San Salvador, La Paz, Cuscatlan, Usulatan and San Vicente were affected most.

Ida’s impact is already being felt in the United States, with crude oil prices shooting up to almost $80 per barrel, even after the storm’s intensity had weakened.

“Briefly at hurricane strength, the late season storm Ida’s threat to Gulf Coast supply lines has waned along with the storm’s power. The price of light, sweet crude rose anyway, adding 33 cents to $79.76 per barrel…” (UPI).