National Weather Service confirms EF-0 tornado in Marrero

MARRERO, La. (WGNO) — The National Weather Service has confirmed that an EF-0 tornado impacted Marrero on Friday, May 2.

According to the NWS, the tornado was confirmed by a survey team Saturday with a preliminary report of winds up to 80 miles per hour.

NWS officials said the wind caused damage to sheds and roofs near Belle Terre Road.

“The wind blew all my car, the cover on my house and then blew all that was down on my Jeep,” said Marrero resident Ed Hall Jr.

“I’m just thanking God that I wasn’t here. You know, during the storm because it could have been worse,” said Marrero resident Marrione Celistan.

Yet it was the next morning when photos of flipped sheds and debris on the side of roads caught everyone’s attention

“It took my barn and that’s my second one. Katrina took the other one out,” said Marrero resident Gilbert Alleman.

Alleman sat on his porch as he surveyed the damage. He says the loud crash woke him up.

“I thought somebody had run into my barn, and it was the tornado itself. I came out here and I’ve seen it was all in the middle of the road and that the police had to block both ways,” said Alleman.

Just around the corner, Rodney Guidry is repairing his fence that was taken down. As he watched from his window, he said it came and went quickly, something like a funnel cloud.

“A lot of heavy rain. Then, the rain kind of slacked off and we heard the wind. By the time we got in the hallway, less than probably 30 or 45 seconds, it was over,” said Guidry.

Both agree they are happy to be alive as no injuries were reported, blessed there wasn’t too much damage.

“I’d rather repair this fence than anything else. You know, it could have flipped my camp over, but it did a lot more damage,” said Guidry.

“I’m alive. I guess I’m 91. The last one in my family, number 12,” said Alleman.

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