also helping in the mission, locals like vincent otello, responding to people by facebook and reaching them by boat after getting their address. it was the second strongest hurricane to hit louisiana, with wind gusts up to 172 miles per hour. >> kind of what my wife says about childbirth. you can explain it to people, but until you experience it you can't appreciate it. >> reporter: the representative of houma >> reporter: later today, homeland security alejandro mayorkas will be surveying the damage with louisiana's governor. >>> part of new orleans and louisiana could spend weeks without power. nearly 1 million customers are in the dark. that means no air conditioning in the sweltering heat. and it could mean long-term water and sewage treatment problems. some desperation is already be felt. >> the people that evacuated already have all the hotels occupied. you know, that left earlier. so where would you go? i mean, where would i go? but i know i can't stay in here three weeks without power. >> the power company in new orleans says more than 2,000 miles of transmission lines are out