Zachary, Port Allen among hardest hit by overnight storms

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Severe weather moved through southeast Louisiana early Thursday morning after apparent tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma and Texas.

More: At least 6 dead as storms hit Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana

Significant storm damage was reported in Pointe Coupee Parish, Port Allen, and Zachary Thursday morning (April 23).

Hail ranging from an inch to an inch-and-a-half in diameter was reported by the National Weather Service in parts of Watson, Maringouin, and Livonia.

The awning at a Circle K at the intersection of Highway 19 and Highway 64 in Zachary collapsed.

Beginning Monday, April 27, City of Zachary Public Works crews will run routes picking up yard debris, such as downed limbs, trees and leaves.

All storm-related debris must be placed curbside. Officials are asking that you bundle or separate debris no longer than 4-foot long and 2-foot wide for easy pick-up. The crews will only be picking up fresh, green storm debris. Do not mix old yard debris, household waste, tin, boards or white goods with any of the staged debris bundles.

A family in Port Allen was asleep when a tree was blown onto their house. They told Liz Koh everyone seems to be fine.

More storms are still possible late Thursday morning into the early afternoon.

A National Weather Service team will be dispatched to survey damage and to confirm whether the storms were tornadoes.

According to Entergy’s outage map, as of noon, over 1,200 people were without power in East Baton Rouge Parish.

“Due to the thunderstorms along with the high winds that have and continue to move through the area, we are experiencing numerous outages. Entergy personnel are working to restore service safely and as quickly as possible. At this time, we estimate that all service will be restored by 10 pm on April 23rd. The estimated time of restoration could change as all damage assessments are completed or if other storm activity results in additional outages,” the outage map says.

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At least two people died in Louisiana.

The Associated Press reports that a woman was killed on a bridge in Woodworth, Louisiana, 15 miles south of Alexandria, due to the severe weather.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatality but didn't provide additional details related to the exact cause of the woman's death.

In DeSoto Parish, deputies say a man fell into a flooded canal trying to retrieve his garbage can. Sheriff Jayson Richardson told KALB the man was not carrying identification and was swept into moving water. His body was recovered 50 yards downstream about 90 minutes later.

Sheriff Richardson says around the same time as the search, DeSoto Parish deputies were rescuing people from their flooded homes just a few blocks away.

The Alexandria campus of Louisiana State University also saw some damage from the storm.

The university tweeted, “All resident students safe. There is damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over.”

The forecast looks much quieter this weekend with only a slim chance of a shower early Saturday.

Another round of storms is likely next Wednesday, April 29.

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