Search and rescue crews worked into Wednesday morning in the New Orleans area after a large tornado struck parts of the city and the surrounding suburbs, killing at least one person and tearing apart homes, officials said.
The tornado ripped through the city’s Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish, which borders it to the southeast. St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jimmy Pohlmann said at a Tuesday night news conference one person was confirmed dead from the tornado and several others were injured.
“We have widespread damage,” added St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis.
Photos and video from Tuesday night showed the massive twister in the city.
“Large tornado on the ground in New Orleans! Take shelter now!” the National Weather Service office in New Orleans tweeted around 7:30 p.m.
The tornado spawned in a larger storm system that struck the South earlier this week and continues to move east. At least one other death was reported in the storms and widespread damage occurred in Texas and Oklahoma. Severe weather is expected in the southeast Wednesday.
TORNADO STRIKES NEW ORLEANS:1 reported dead outside city, search and rescue teams deployed
Tornado tears through New Orleans suburb of St. Bernard Parish
Parts of St. Bernard Parish appeared to take the brunt of the storm’s effects. The New Orleans Fire Department said it was assisting search and rescue operations there.
Pohlmann said Tuesday night initial rescue efforts would go into the early morning.
Officials provided no immediate details about the one fatality in St. Bernard Parish.
Stacey Mancuso said she huddled in the laundry room of her home in Arabi with her husband, two children and dogs as part of their roof was lifted away by the wind.
“We’re alive. That’s what I can say at this point. We still have four walls and part of a roof. I consider myself lucky,” said Mancuso.
Mancuso said it was the third time they’ve had significant weather damage. The area also sustained significant damage during Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Ida last summer.
Michelle Malasovich, also living in Arabi, said she was texting with family when, “all of a sudden the lights started flickering.” Her husband was out on the porch and saw the tornado coming.
“Our neighbor’s house is in the middle of the street right now,” Malasovich said.
In New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell tweeted there were no reports of fatalities or significant damage. However, 8,000 customers had their power knocked out, she said. Power appeared to be back for most customers by Wednesday morning, though more than 2,000 customers in St. Bernard Parish were without electricity, according to the online tracker PowerOutage.US.
State authorities were assisting local departments in their search and damage assessment efforts, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards tweeted. “My prayers are with you in Southeast Louisiana tonight. Please be safe,” he added.
Storms headed east, caused damage around the South
After moving through the New Orleans area, the storms continued their march east and caused damage in parts of Alabama.
The National Weather Service office in Mobile, Alabama, tweeted Tuesday night a confirmed tornado touched down in the town of Summerdale and was moving toward Robertsdale. Further north in Toxey, the roofs of several homes were damaged in the storms, the Weather Service said.
Severe thunderstorms were forecast to move through the Florida Panhandle on Wednesday, bringing damaging winds and the possibility of tornadoes, the weather service office in Tallahassee said.
The storms were also expected to move through Georgia and the Carolinas on Wednesday, according to weather service offices.
Earlier this week, tornadoes touched down in parts of Texas and Oklahoma within the storm system and several tornadoes were reported along the Interstate 35 corridor.
The storms destroyed homes and businesses and downed power lines. In Sherwood Shores, Texas, one person was killed in a tornado and several others injured.
In Jacksboro, Texas, the storm ripped off the wall and roof at Jacksboro High School, and damaged 60 to 80 homes, WFAA-TV reported.
More than 16,000 power customers were still without electricity Wednesday morning, according to PowerOutage.US.
Contributing: Christine Fernando and Celina Tebor, USA TODAY; Roberto Villalpando, Claire Osborn and Tony Plohetski, Austin American-Statesman; The Associated Press
