Apparent Tornado Rakes Across Rural Louisiana

At least one person was killed Monday, December 16, as strong storms left a trail of smashed buildings, splintered trees and downed power lines in Louisiana, and forecasters said more states were in the bullseye.

One person died when an apparent tornado struck a small residential area in Vernon Parish, but details were not immediately available, said Chief Deputy Calvin Turner.

Officials fear others could be hurt in the area since crews were still trying to get into hard-hit areas where downed trees and power lines blocked roads, he said.

Nearly 6,000 area homes and businesses were without power, according to the Louisiana utility Cleco. Damage also was reported about 40 kilometers away in DeRidder, but details weren’t immediately available.

School systems in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi dismissed students early and canceled afternoon events and activities as a precaution because of the weather threat. (AP)