Tornado-like weather strikes parish Friday

By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

What appears to be a tornado struck Evangeline Parish in the L’anse Bourbeuse Community Friday afternoon.

The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) and Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) responded to the area Friday, April 11. Sheriff Eddie Soileau said he was notified by his office shortly after 4 p.m. of the situation. He said residents in the area told him the weather came through the area at approximately 3 p.m.

Liz Hill, director of OEP and 9-1-1, said the dispatchers began receiving the first calls at approximately 4 p.m. that a tornado had possibly come through the area. Hill and members of the EPSO and the Evangeline Parish Police Jury responded to the area.

“One trailer house was damaged,” Hill said.

The sheriff said another tree fell on a flatbed gooseneck trailer. “Thank God nobody got hurt,” Soileau said.

Both Soileau and Hill described the countryside with downed powerlines, tin in the pastures or on powerlines, fences down and downed trees and branches scattered across the area. Soileau said there were some reports of damaged roofs in the area. Power outages were reported.

Area utility and phone companies were working in the area Friday afternoon. The police jury was clearing the roadway of a large tree.

From the path it appeared to have traveled, Soileau said the tornado looked like it moved to the east after leaving the L’anse Bourbeuse Community. Several communities in St. Landry Parish reported having damage from this weather.