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Severe weather causes damage across Louisiana

Posted at 12:30 PM, Nov 01, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-01 18:43:43-04

BATON ROUGE – Many parishes are reporting damage after a cold front with severe thunderstorms moved across the state Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Initial assessment information is being sent to the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).

GOHSEP and the National Weather Service (NWS) recently promoted Fall Severe Weather Awareness Week, highlighting the weather-related threats this time of year. The NWS indicates the chance of severe weather, such as damaging thunderstorms, winds and tornadoes, typically increases during November as the initial strong cold fronts and weather systems of the fall season move through the Gulf Coast region.

GOHSEP Director Jim Waskom says, “As we move out of hurricane season, we face different threats this time of year. Cold fronts often include intense thunderstorms, like the ones we experienced in many parts of the state overnight. Always keep your supply kits stocked and go to www.getagameplan.org for more information on these types of weather events.”

Here is some of the initial information being reported by impacted parishes:

Power Outages: Statewide outages as of 9:00 am were 52,863.

Damage Reports: These damage reports are preliminary and will change as more assessments are completed.

Washington Parish:

(The parish will declare a state of emergency)

One citizen was rescued after a roof collapsed on Hwy. 439 near Nash Harper Road. Two males were rescued from an overturned mobile home on Mack Adams O Berry Road in Bogalusa. A possible tornado damaged several homes in the Angie area. The Red Cross is responding with a damage assessment/assistance team.

St. Tammany:

Approximately 10 homes were damaged in the Covington area. The damage ranged from windows knocked out to roof and fence damage.

Beauregard Parish:

Two schools have been closed due to damage. One home has been damaged. No injuries reported.

East Feliciana:

About 30 percent of parish roads were closed due to trees, limbs and other debris. No flooding has been reported. A bridge on Hwy 955 East has damage to the guardrails after a 30-inch oak tree fell. There is no timeline for when the bridge will be reopened.

West Feliciana:

There are numerous road closures due to trees, limbs and other debris. No flooding reported.

Tangipahoa Parish:

Four mobile homes destroyed due to falling trees. Four people had to be rescued from those homes. Approximately 10 other homes received damage from winds and trees. 11 roads closed due to downed trees and power lines. Roughly 5,500 homes are without power.

Rapides Parish:

Report of trees down in areas near Kingsville and Esler Field in the Pineville area; including a tree on a roof. Some businesses report minor to moderate damage.

Damage in Pineville / Courtesy of Nicholas Nagy

St. Helena Parish:

No significant damage reported, but there are many downed trees and power lines across the parish.