At least two people have died, several have been hospitalized and several homes and businesses have been destroyed after heavy storms in parts of the Gulf Coast.
Jose Higareda, 28, died in Palmetto, Louisiana, where a tornado destroyed at least six homes and two trailers Saturday morning, CBS News affiliate KSLA-TV reported. The National Meteorological Service confirmed an EF3 tornado with an estimated maximum winds of 140 mph that had fallen in the area.
The president of the parish of St. Landry, Jessie Bellard, said seven more were injured, five of whom have been released from hospital and are in the process of returning home.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by this storm,” Bellard said in a press release. “We are doing everything we can to help these families.”
Layne Herpin, government of the parish of St. Landry.
In Shreveport, Louisiana, a 48-year-old man died Friday after a tree fell on his mobile home where there were strong winds in the area at the time, according to the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. The city was under a river flood warning from Saturday evening and residents were advised to avoid driving vehicles in flooded areas or near river banks.
Severe weather warnings have also been issued about floods, hail and storms in some areas of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, affecting nearly 6 million residents.
Tens of thousands of people in the region have also reported power outages since Friday evening.
“It will be a while before they get her back,” Bellard said. He said the electric companies of St. Landry are currently in the process of restoring downtime and cleaning up debris.
According to the National Weather Service, conditions in northwestern and western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma are expected to improve in the early hours of Saturday evening.