Uploaded March 2011 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
RAYNE, La. (AP) -- An EF2 tornado slammed a southwestern Louisiana town Saturday, killing a woman and injuring 12 other people. More than 100 homes were damaged, many of them destroyed, authorities said, and about 1,500 people were evacuated because of natural gas leaks.
The 21-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell on her house while protecting her daughter, said Maxine Trahan, a spokeswoman for the Acadia Parish sheriff. Debris was littered throughout Rayne, a town of about 8,500 people, after a line of violent thunderstorms moved through the area and left behind a swath of damage about 300 yards wide by 5 miles long. Pieces of homes were strewn about the tops of trees, and power lines were down. A U.S. Postal Service truck was flipped on to its side.
Trahan said the natural gas leaks, which were later fixed, delayed authorities trying to count how many homes and businesses were damaged. About 1,500 people were ordered out of the area for the night, she said, because officials feared more gas leaks could occur. A temporary shelter was set up at a fire station and officials were working to find other shelters.
"There are houses off their foundations," said State Police Trooper Stephen Hammons. "There are houses that have been destroyed.
The National Weather Service has confirmed than an EF0 tornado hit just northwest of Crowley, La. This tornado dropped debris along I-10. Damage was done to a Waffle House and a car wash building collapsed.
The line of storms would go on to strike the New Orleans, La. area with torrential downpours and gusty winds. A 55 mph wind gust was reported and 2.21" of rain fell in 45 minutes.
RAYNE, La. (AP) -- An EF2 tornado slammed a southwestern Louisiana town Saturday, killing a woman and injuring 12 other people. More than 100 homes were damaged, many of them destroyed, authorities said, and about 1,500 people were evacuated because of natural gas leaks.
The 21-year-old woman was killed when a tree fell on her house while protecting her daughter, said Maxine Trahan, a spokeswoman for the Acadia Parish sheriff. Debris was littered throughout Rayne, a town of about 8,500 people, after a line of violent thunderstorms moved through the area and left behind a swath of damage about 300 yards wide by 5 miles long. Pieces of homes were strewn about the tops of trees, and power lines were down. A U.S. Postal Service truck was flipped on to its side.
Trahan said the natural gas leaks, which were later fixed, delayed authorities trying to count how many homes and businesses were damaged. About 1,500 people were ordered out of the area for the night, she said, because officials feared more gas leaks could occur. A temporary shelter was set up at a fire station and officials were working to find other shelters.
"There are houses off their foundations," said State Police Trooper Stephen Hammons. "There are houses that have been destroyed.
The National Weather Service has confirmed than an EF0 tornado hit just northwest of Crowley, La. This tornado dropped debris along I-10. Damage was done to a Waffle House and a car wash building collapsed.
The line of storms would go on to strike the New Orleans, La. area with torrential downpours and gusty winds. A 55 mph wind gust was reported and 2.21" of rain fell in 45 minutes.
