There was rain and wind as a line of storms pushed through Southeast Louisiana, but it seemed like the severe weather that had been forecast was not going to materialize.
And then it did.
Tornadoes were reported in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Arabi in St. Bernard Parish, and in Lacombe in St. Tammany Parish.
A St Tammany spokesman said more than 1,000 St. Tammany residents were without power last night. There were reports of downed trees on LA 1088 and LA 36. However, the Northshore appeared to escape the widespread damage that was reported to the south.
Large portions of St. Bernard Parish were without power, according to Parish President Guy McGinnis, who said several homes were destroyed by the storm. At a news conference late last night McGinnis urged residents to stay home and not to travel.
Mayor Latoya Cantrell said a tornado touched down in the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans East shortly before 8 p.m. She said the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness activated their Emergency Operations Center in response to the tornado as they accessed damage. More than 8,000 customers were without power.
