‘EF1 tornado’ tears through N. Louisiana, downed trees, flooding, and heavy damage

CADDO PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A heavy storm and tornado torn through southwest Caddo Parish. Volunteers, the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office were working to clear debris and downed trees off Adams Road.

“We do have a confirmed tornado that did track through this area. Wind specifically in this area are estimated around, based on the damage, are estimated around 105 miles per hour, which puts it as a strong EF1 tornado so far,” said Jason Hansford, senior meteorologist, National Weather Service Office Shreveport.

According to the National Weather Service, the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale goes up to 5 with winds over 200 mph.

Hansford says the National Weather Service is in the beginning of their survey, but they have backtracked the storm further southwest towards the Texas and Louisiana line.

Volunteers helped clear debris, cut down trees, and offer support.

Keith Bryant, president of the Shreveport Volunteer Network said, “we come out to love our neighbor as ourselves and we have the tools and the equipment to be able to- and thank God the time to be able to just come help people that are in times of need like this.”

He adds that the network partners with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“Just because you don’t have a tree down at this point in time, it doesn’t mean that you’re not going to. Our ground is saturated, so just go and inspect your trees. Look for hangers up in the top that could fall on you at a later date and inspect your root balls around your trees just to make sure that- that the storm didn’t affect you as well and you just haven’t realized the effects of it yet,” said Bryant.

Hansford says the EF rating may go up as they continue their survey, it is too early to tell at this time.

“We’re going to continue to follow this damage track to the northeast. We’ve got additional points, damage points, that we’re going to survey as we get closer to town. And to our understanding there is some damage on the southwest side of Shreveport which we’ll investigate as well,” said Hansford.