Gulf Coast Mangled by Swath of Tornadoes

The National Weather Service on Feb. 26 updated to 13 the number of tornadoes that hit Louisiana on Feb. 23, including four tornadoes — one an EF-3 — that were responsible for extreme damage in Convent and LaPlace, along with an EF-2 in Livingston Parish and one in Paincourtville.

The tornadoes were part of a massive storm system that swept across the Gulf Coast states. As many as 24 tornadoes were estimated to have hit Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi collectively. Two people were killed in Louisiana and one in Mississippi. Dozens were injured.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in nine parishes as a result of the damage from the severe weather.

In Louisiana, Convent and LaPlace were particularly hard hit. More than 100 structures were reported destroyed and two persons killed by a tornado that tore through Convent, La., about 50 miles west of New Orleans. Accuweather reported that the Sugar Hill RV Park in Convent, in St. James Parish, was devastated. Around 200 homes and businesses in and around LaPlace were destroyed or severely damaged.

Associated Press reports contributed to this story.