6 tornadoes – 1 dead – 9 injured
October 30th, 2009 at 1:50 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog, Weather
<–tree damage near Shreveport, La. (click the pic. to enlarge). Six tornadoes struck in and near Sheveport, Louisiana Thursday evening. There was one fatality when a vehicle ran into a downed tree near Vivian, La. The steeple blew off a Methodist Church in Shreveport. One man (a well-known local artist) in a passing vehicle was injured. Eight others were taken to hospitals with various injuries in Haughton. Check the picture at the link provided. Video here. It took nearly an hour to extricate him from his car. The roof was heavily damaged at the downtown YMCA. The storms also produced severe flooding. A band of 6-inches of rain fell from E. Texas thru NW Louisiana and up into Arkansas. The Emergency Operations Center in Bossier City, LA experienced severe flooding and had to be moved to Shreveport. All Bossier City Schools have been closed for Friday, as well as Shreveport Catholic Schools. Cars are floating on I-20 and underpasses are flooded. Cars and at least two semi’s were blow off the expressway. The Interstate is backed up for miles in both directions. Evacuations are taking place. Residents have been asked to stay off the roads. Lots of pictures and additional information here. The Red Cross has set up at least one shelter. 22,000 customers are without power. Earlier winds gusted to over 70 mph at Stillwater OK.
Wow. Sounds like the tornadoes left a mess down there. At the least I hope there are no more fatalities. Also pray for everyone involved. And think, we are bickering about getting some snow?????
Much as I hate the snow, if it’s the worst we’ll see…bring it on. Hope all those families are all right.