If you were among the thousands who heeded calls to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana State Police is advising everyone to stay put. Right now local authorities in the most hard-hit areas have their hands full accessing widespread damage, rescuing people who didn't make it out, and dealing with massive power outages. Residents who left, are highly discouraged from traveling back to their communities.

There is a lot of debris, downed powerlines, and emergency crews need the roadways clear of unnecessary traffic. Trooper Derrick Senegal with LA Troop D asked for patience. He said work crews need time to clear the roadways, remove trees and restore power. In the meantime, residents needing information about their area can go online to their city or parish web page/social media sites for useful info regarding their community. Trooper Senegal also suggested using the 511 app or 511la.org for updates on roadway conditions and closures.

RANKED: Here are the most popular national parks

To determine the most popular national parks in the United States, Stacker compiled data from the National Park Service on the number of recreational visits each site had in 2020. Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular national parks in the United States, in reverse order from #50 to #1. And be sure to check with individuals parks before you visit to find out about ongoing, pandemic-related safety precautions at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

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