Washington Post – by Angela Fritz
Severe thunderstorms barreled through the Southeast on Tuesday, dropping multiple tornadoes in southern Louisiana, one of which did major damage to communities in east New Orleans — among the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
The large tornado was filmed by storm chasers and residents as it tracked from west to east across the populous New Orleans region. Multiple tornado warnings were issued as the storm evolved in which the National Weather Service used strong language to convey a tornado had been spotted on the ground.
The National Weather Service confirmed at least three tornadoes touched down.
Many areas affected by tornado today in New Orleans likely affected by Katrina too in 2005….my heart goes out to them
— Marshall Shepherd (@DrShepherd2013) February 7, 2017
The NASA assembly facility in Michoud, La., sustained damage as the tornado passed through and the campus lost power. A Lockheed Martin spokesperson told The Post all of their employees are accounted for but couldn’t speak for the NASA employees.
Storms continued into the afternoon in the area while affected communities in the New Orleans area began to assess the damage. Major damage to homes and businesses was reported on social media via photos and video.
The storms resulted in two minor injuries in Livingston Parish, east of Baton Rouge, the AP reports. No other injuries or fatalities have been reported.
NOFD searching the wrecked remains of this house pic.twitter.com/W6liTgQeYN
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) February 7, 2017
Serious damage in 4700 block of Bundy Road, smell of leaking gas pic.twitter.com/ZAC7VKEFmi
— Matt Sledge (@mgsledge) February 7, 2017
Video taken from New Orleans East hospital around 11:00 am today. Video owned by Sam Girault. pic.twitter.com/SrTrWocMXi
— WWL-TV (@WWLTV) February 7, 2017
Tornado reported in New Orleans East https://t.co/lhYka5s0lF #NOLAWx pic.twitter.com/KY0xtQZ8mU
— NOLA.com (@NOLAnews) February 7, 2017
Chef Menteur at Laine Av in New Orleans tornado damage @wwltv @theadvocateno pic.twitter.com/AF7lnj84NQ
— Matthew Hinton (@MattHintonPhoto) February 7, 2017