State of emergency following south Louisiana tornadoes

The Storm Prediction Center issued a tornado watch across southern Louisiana and southern MS early this morning.

Trains overturned, and/or vehicles lifted off the ground.

Landrieu said dozens of people are injured, but most of the injuries are minor.

Gov. John Bel Edwards took an aerial tour and made a disaster declaration before meeting with officials in New Orleans. Most homes affected in the city were newly rebuilt in the light of Hurricane Katrina.

Jonathan Simeral, a materials engineer at the facility, said he initially headed to a window after getting a weather warning on his phone, but then “dove into a bathroom” after his colleagues screamed that they could see the tornado approach. About 10,000 homes are without power.

One driver was trapped in his truck by power lines that wrapped around the cab.

Severe weather is continuing in the region.

Kimberly Chaney was trying to record it when her mother pulled her inside, just in time.

“(Hail) rocks were falling on the vehicle, and I was looking out the side door and saw the clouds moving fast.

“I heard the sound of a freight train and I was holding her”. We thought we weren’t gonna make it.

Now as she takes stock of the place where she works, almost annihilated, she can breathe easy knowing her little Autumn still has her smile, something she’ll never let go. It was a frightful experience.

“We are searching, we are rescuing”, said Harrison. All I could think of was putting her back in her auto seat.

Tornados were also reported in Killian, Madisonville, Jefferson Parish and on the west bank. Local emergency leaders say it could just as easily happen here, and you could find yourself stranded at home or without power for a day or two. They also said there have found 54 gas leaks.

Damaged buildings near Chef Menteur Avenue. The announcement covered 2.7 million people in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.