[brilkyPlayday]

Tornado Rips Though New Orleans Area
By KEVIN McGILL, Associated Press Writer
2 hours ago

NEW ORLEANS - A powerful storm and likely a tornado hit the New Orleans area early Tuesday, damaging dozens of homes and business, ripping the roof off a hotel, and injuring at least three people.

The storm hit hardest around 3:30 a.m. in Westwego, just across the river from New Orleans.

It tore the roof off a hotel, and Westwego Mayor Robert Billiot said dozens of homes and businesses were also damaged. Trailers were overturned and several homes collapsed in other areas, officials said.

In New Orleans, the storm knocked down power lines and tree limbs and damaged roofs. About 20,000 people were without power in New Orleans, Westwego, and Metairie, a spokesman for Entergy Corp. said.

"There is just so much destruction," Billiot said.

At least three people were taken to hospitals. Billiot said two people in Westwego were injured.

At one point, emergency workers in New Orleans' uptown neighborhood scrambled to clear a downed magnolia tree so an ambulance could get by.

John Carolan, 50, who lives in the neighborhood, said he was awakened by the storm and got up in time to get into a closet with his wife.

"Ten seconds and it was over," he said.

He said the storm blew the furniture from his porch into the street.

Radar data provides "pretty convincing evidence there was a tornado," said meteorologist Robert Ricks in the National Weather Service office in Slidell. He said the damage appeared to be from one storm cell.

"It should be an improving trend the rest of the day," Ricks said.

[ValdisSeroff]

New Orleans better change their way of living. Me and some friends were going for Mardi Gras this year but too much killings going on there and not talking about the weather either, so think I'll skip it.