The National Weather Service has completed its survey of the tornado that ripped a nine-mile long swath through Union Parish last Tuesday evening.
The NWS determined the tornado reached peak wind speeds of 140 miles per hour. Fourteen injuries occurred in Union Parish with no known fatalities. The EF-3 tornado tore a path from Lake D’arbonne to a point 9.1 miles northeast of Farmerville in 11 minutes. At points, the width of the destruction was 500 yards.
Governor John Bel Edwards visited Union Parish Wednesday in a tour of tornado destruction in north Louisiana. Edwards met with local officials and complimented first responders who acted swiftly to begin search and rescue efforts shortly after the tornado passed through the area.
Edwards has declared a State of Emergency for Louisiana and asked those who sustained damage to report it to http://damage.la.gov.
Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates expressed thanks to all parish first responders for their efforts in the aftermath of the storm. “Numerous entities, both public and private, immediately offered assistance to our parish, showing, once again, that Union Parish residents are resilient and always willing to help one another when disaster strikes,” the sheriff said.
Initial reports from the NWS indicate six possible tornadoes struck Caddo, Union, Rapides, Madison, East Carroll and Franklin Parishes.
