High winds and several tornadoes hit the Pelican state on Tuesday afternoon. One tornado came close to New Orleans Airport before touching down in a field, according to the Associated Press.
#breaking multiple ambulances on scene at trailer park in Convent. People trapped. Multiple injuries. @WBRZ pic.twitter.com/fVfjXsFBpD
โ Chris Nakamoto WBRZ (@ChrisNakamoto) February 23, 2016
Convent Parish Sheriff Willy Martin told local news that there had been two confirmed fatalities, adding that at least 31 people had been injured, and seven to eight critically.
Heavy trucks were clearly tossed into trailers. pic.twitter.com/34mt8P4eyX
โ Michael Shingleton (@ShingletonWBRZ) February 24, 2016
Authorities said there were reports of people possibly trapped in some of the trailers or under debris.
As weather maps showed a big red swath marking the storm's direction across the state, warnings were issued alerting people to seek shelter. Weather officials were tracking more than a dozen reports of tornadoes in the region.
A TORNADO WARNING is in effect for the area(s) outlined below. Take shelter NOW! Details at https://t.co/LEuQa7igL4 pic.twitter.com/u5Ohbbuo9F
โ WWL-TV (@WWLTV) February 23, 2016
Some 31,000 customers have reportedly been left without power statewide, with crews working to restore it as quickly as possible.
A trail of devastation could be seen in Livingston Parish.
More damage from a tornado in Livingston LA #4WWL pic.twitter.com/46Ph5XYfXW
โ wynton yates (@WyntonYates) February 23, 2016
Considerable tornado damage in Assumption Parish, Louisiana. Photo by @ayee_its_erinn from Paincourtville: #lawx pic.twitter.com/88bO0kHrhf
โ The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) February 23, 2016
In Prairieville, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, there was damage to some buildings, and the roof of a fitness center was ripped off. In neighboring Mississippi, Governor Phil Bryant had declared a state of emergency in anticipation of severe weather. State authorities said that one person had died.
More than 6 million people in parts of five states - Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia - were in areas of moderate risk for strong tornadoes and other severe weather on Tuesday, the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma estimated.
Comment: Since when did February become tornado season? Something is seriously off with the climate, and it isn't "global warming".