By Baptist Message staff
SLIDELL, La. (LBM) – A line of powerful storms knocked out power to thousands and produced several possible tornadoes that caused significant damage in parts of potential tornadoes in the state, April 9-10.
First Baptist Church, Slidell, lost some of its gymnasium roof after a tornado came through the back of the church, Pastor Casey Stark said.
“A tornado touched down on the back of our property causing roof damage and significantly damaged the surrounding neighborhoods,” Stark told the Baptist Message. “We are working to get disaster relief efforts up and running in our neighborhoods.”
The Slidell Police Department posted a video that showed extensive damage to businesses, apartment complexes and other buildings in south Slidell. Officers and other first responders also rescued individuals in areas that took on high water. Multiple injuries were reported.
Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Strategist Stan Statham said teams would be deployed soon to assess damage in Slidell and Lake Charles.
In many communities of the state, high waters flooded streets and knocked out power. More than 135,000 customers were in the dark as of 2 p.m. on April 10, according to poweroutage.us
The storms also produced hail throughout the state, including quarter-sized hail in Arnaudville and Ramah, according to the National Weather Service.
In Pine Prairie, members of First Baptist Church worked together to clean up the flooded home of a fellow member.
“My folks came together to mop up and dry it out, so I would ask for prayers that no major damage ” Pastor R. Lee Walton told the Baptist Message. “I am thankful for everyone coming together.”
KVUE-TV in New Orleans reported that a possible tornado hit a home near Pearl River, trapping a disabled woman inside. Neighbors brought ladders and attached a temporary tarp over her home before emergency responders arrived to rescue the woman from the home.
The National Weather Service in Lake Charles confirmed a tornado with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph touched down in the city near Vernon Road on the east side of McNeese State University and crossed Common, Center, Harvard and Kirkman streets before moving into the Moss Memorial Health Complex, causing damage to roofing. The tornado then continued across Louisiana Avenue where it destroyed roofs of several homes along Elton Court, where it caused widespread tree and electrical damage.
Crews from the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Rosepine Fire Department rescued a stranded pedestrian from floodwaters off Hawks Road in Leesville. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office also helped rescue a family trapped in their flooded home in Merryville.
In Calcasieu Parish, several homes were damaged and numerous downed trees and power lines.
The National Weather Service said a possible tornado touched down in Cankton, which caused damage on Diamond Lane and Berab and Vautrot roads. Fifteen miles north in Opelousas, four people were injured when a tree fell on a car.
Another possible tornado was reported on Delta Place Road in New Roads and Morganza in Pointe Coupee Parish. According to WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge, the storm also caused downed power lines and trees in other communities in the parish, including one that fell on Innis Senior Center in Batchelor.
WAFB also reported possible tornadoes and individuals trapped in home and vehicles in West Feliciana Parish.
KSLA-TV in Shreveport reported that crews worked in Bossier Parish on April 10 to clear a tree that had fallen in the 500 block of Crouch Road in Benton. The tree hit a nearby powerline and knocked out power to nearby homes. Additionally, an oak tree fell on a home in Stonewall.
Throughout the night, Bossier Parish crews took more than 50 weather-related calls for flooded roads and trees down across roadways, on buildings and on powerlines.
High water and construction forced the closure of the Washington Street boat landing on Cane River in Natchitoches. The Shell Beach boat launch remained open.
In West Monroe, high winds knocked a tree on a home. Though the structure sustained significant roof damage and a vehicle was totaled, the family members escaped unharmed.
