At least four tornadoes swept through the US State of Louisiana, leaving injuries and widespread damage in several cities in the State including New Orleans.

    Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in the wake of the damaging storms and said he will travel to southeastern Louisiana to survey the destruction left behind.

    One of the hardest-hit areas was New Orleans East where severe damage to homes and businesses was reported by local media. Emergency managers reported at least 60 homes and businesses were damaged in New Orleans East, and at least 20 people were hurt. Following a preliminary survey, the National Weather Service said the tornado was at least EF2 in strength.

    New Orleans East is home to at least 65,000 residents, down from 95,000 prior to Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the area in 2005. New Orleans East is a neighborhood in the city's Ninth Ward.

    The tornado also left damage to NASA's Michoud Assembly Facility and the USDA's National Finance Center's Primary Business Center. The buildings are located adjacent to one another in Michoud.

    A tornado was also reported south of Killian, a town of about 1,200 northwest of Lake Pontchartrain. The tornado possibly crossed Interstate 55 between Akers and Ponchatoula.

    In Livingston Parish, at least 10 homes were damaged and two minor injuries were reported, deputy emergency management preparedness director Brandi Janes said.

    As severe storms marched east, a waterspout reportedly came ashore in Destin, Florida. According to the Pensacola News Journal, the reported tornado damaged the roof of McGuire's Irish Pub and hit an EMS vehicle, injuring one person.

Source: QNA