Twister restoration efforts convey hope to Louisiana communities
Residents in Arabi, Avondale, and Houma are working collectively to rebuild after tornadoes prompted widespread destruction, with neighbors, volunteers, and organizations stepping in to assist.
YOU SEE IT. IT’S RIGHT THERE. STILL. LOOK, IT’S RIGHT THERE. SO CHECK OUT THIS CELL PHONE VIDEO FROM MIKE COOK IN ARABI. YOU CAN SEE THAT NOW. CONFIRMED TORNADO DISSIPATES. AND THEN AS YOU CAN SEE, IT FORMS JUST OUTSIDE OF HIS HOME. WHILE THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN CONFIRMED THIS AFTERNOON THAT TORNADO CAUSED DESTRUCTION AND ARABI FRIDAY EVENING, ST. BERNARD PARISH OFFICIALS SAY NO ONE WAS HURT IN THAT WEATHER EVENT. AND FOR THAT VERY REASON, THOSE AFFECTED WE SPOKE TO ARE KEEPING THEIR SPIRITS HIGH. WDSU’S NINA FOXX JOINS US LIVE WITH MORE ON THE PATH TO FORWARD, TO MOVE FORWARD IN THESE COMMUNITIES. NINA. GOOD EVENING DUKE, THAT TORNADO THAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT CAUSED DESTRUCTION TO THIS HOME BEHIND ME RIGHT NOW IN ARABI, AND ALSO ABOUT THREE OTHER HOMES HERE. AND SIMILARLY IN AVONDALE, IN HOUMA, WE SAW MATERIAL DESTRUCTION TO PEOPLE’S HOMES, THEIR CARS AND OTHER PERSONAL BELONGINGS. BUT, YOU KNOW, DESPITE ALL OF THIS, IN TRUE LOUISIANA FASHION, PEOPLE ARE COMING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THOSE AFFECTED ARE NOT ALONE. IT’S RIGHT THERE. LOOK, YOU SEE IT? IT’S RIGHT THERE. STILL THIS CELL PHONE VIDEO SHOWING A NOW CONFIRMED TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN ARABI FRIDAY EVENING, CAUSING BROKEN HOMES, DAMAGED POWER LINES AND COLLAPSED BRANCHES. DESPITE THE DESTRUCTION, THE COMMUNITY WALKS AWAY WITH HEADS HELD HIGH. IT FEELS VERY GOOD THAT WE HAVE NO REPORTED INJURIES AT ALL AT THIS TIME, AND IT FEELS VERY GOOD THAT WE CAN WALK AROUND HERE AND ALL THE NEIGHBORS ARE OUT HELPING EACH OTHER AND FIRST RESPONDERS. I MEAN, THEY’RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB. AND THAT’S NOT THE ONLY HARD HIT AREA KEEPING THE FAITH. THIS IS WHERE YOUR HOME WAS DESTROYED, WAS. THAT’S WHERE IT IS. THAT’S WHERE IT IS NOW. 62 YEAR OLD GILBERT SIMMONS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL AVONDALE RESIDENTS TO SEE HIS HOME OBLITERATED. THEN I REALIZED I GOT LIGHT COMING THROUGH THE HOUSE AND HALF OF THE ROOF WAS OFF IN THE BACK. WHILE THEIR HOUSES HAVE CRUMBLED DOWN, THEIR SPIRITS HAVEN’T. I’M FEELING THE LUCKIEST MAN. HEY, GIVE ME A POWERBALL TICKET. I’LL WIN IT RIGHT NOW. GOD IS GOOD. THAT’S ALL I CAN SAY. ON FRIDAY, THE UNITED WAY JOINED FORCES WITH OCHSNER TO BRING VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST IN CLEANUP AND ALSO HELP WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ANOTHER AREA IN THE STATE DEALING WITH CLEANUP IS HOUMA. I’M JUST THANKFUL I’M ALIVE. WE’RE. SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY IS ALSO NOT LOST. GOD BLESS Y’ALL. THANK Y’ALL FOR DOING THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY. SINCE THE DESTRUCTION, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS GIVING FREE MEALS TO THOSE WHO NEED IT THE MOST. AND HERE IN ARABI, THAT TORNADO FRIDAY EVENING ALSO STRUCK DOWN A POWER LINE, CAUSING AN OUTAGE FOR ABOUT 2000 CUSTOMERS. BUT THAT SINCE HAS BEEN RESTORED. NOW, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ON THE AFTERMATH OF TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR AND ALL OF THE TORNADOES THAT HAPPENED AFTER IT, YOU CAN G
Twister restoration efforts convey hope to Louisiana communities
Residents in Arabi, Avondale, and Houma are working collectively to rebuild after tornadoes prompted widespread destruction, with neighbors, volunteers, and organizations stepping in to assist.
A confirmed twister touched down in Arabi on Friday night, inflicting damaged properties, broken energy strains, and collapsed branches, however the neighborhood stays decided to get better.”It feels superb that we are able to stroll round right here and all of the neighbors are out serving to; they’re doing an incredible job,” mentioned St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes. In Avondale, 62-year-old Gilbert Simmons was amongst a number of residents whose properties have been destroyed. Regardless of this, he is strolling away with a optimistic angle due to his survival. “I am feeling the luckiest man,” he mentioned. “Hey, give me a Powerball ticket, I am going to win it proper now.” On Friday, the United Approach partnered with Ochsner Well being to convey volunteers to help with cleanup efforts and supply monetary help. In Houma, restoration efforts proceed, with residents expressing gratitude for the assist. On Friday, the Knights of Columbus hosted a meals distribution occasion at St. Bernadette Church. The group handed out practically 300 free servings of jambalaya.”Individuals are stripping out flooring of their homes; they’re simply in disarray. So I believe not having to cook dinner a meal is a good blessing,” the Rev. Andre Melancon mentioned.
A confirmed twister touched down in Arabi on Friday night, inflicting damaged properties, broken energy strains, and collapsed branches, however the neighborhood stays decided to get better.
“It feels superb that we are able to stroll round right here and all of the neighbors are out serving to; they’re doing an incredible job,” mentioned St. Bernard Parish President Louis Pomes.
In Avondale, 62-year-old Gilbert Simmons was amongst a number of residents whose properties have been destroyed.
Regardless of this, he is strolling away with a optimistic angle due to his survival.
“I am feeling the luckiest man,” he mentioned. “Hey, give me a Powerball ticket, I am going to win it proper now.”
On Friday, the United Approach partnered with Ochsner Well being to convey volunteers to help with cleanup efforts and supply monetary help.
In Houma, restoration efforts proceed, with residents expressing gratitude for the assist.
On Friday, the Knights of Columbus hosted a meals distribution occasion at St. Bernadette Church.
The group handed out practically 300 free servings of jambalaya.
“Individuals are stripping out flooring of their homes; they’re simply in disarray. So I believe not having to cook dinner a meal is a good blessing,” the Rev. Andre Melancon mentioned.
