New Orleans, surrounding areas, ravaged by tornado as severe weather moves into Deep South, at least 1 dead

A tornado hit New Orleans and its nearby suburbs Tuesday, destroying some homes and knocking out power. 

At least one person was killed in Arabi, Louisiana, St. Bernard’s Parish President Guy McInnis said, according to Nola.com in New Orleans. Local officials said several others were injured as rescuers searched for others in need of assistance. He said the tornado caused widespread damage in the parish. 

“We have reports of people [who] are trapped,” St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jimmy Pohlmann told the outlet. “We’re in the area doing assessments now.” A reported 16,000 people were without power in the area. 

The National Weather Service retweeted a video of the tornado in the eastern part of New Orleans that was visible in the darkened sky, urging residents to take shelter. 

The tornado was part of a line of severe weather that started in Texas and Oklahoma and moved into the Deep South, killing one person on Monday. It appeared to start in a New Orleans suburb and then move east across the Mississippi River into the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans and parts of St. Bernard Parish before moving northeast. 

The roof of a home is missing after a powerful tornado struck Arabi, Louisiana on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
(WVUE)

DESTRUCTIVE TORNADOES SWEEP THROUGH OKLAHOMA, TEXAS

While the metropolitan region is often struck by severe weather and heavy rains, it’s rare that a tornado moves through the city.

Pieces of a destroyed home are scattered in a yard after a tornado struck Arabi, Louisiana on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
(WVUE)

Twitter users shared horrifying footage of the ominous tornado visible against the night sky. (Warning: language)

A collapsed home and household items scattered around Arabi, Louisiana after a tornado struck on Tuesday, March 22 2022.
(WVUE)

Ominous photos showed the aftermath of the tornado after it had ripped through parts of the St. Bernard Parish. 

A overturned minivan sits atop branches and parts of houses in left in the wake of a tornado that touched down in Louisiana on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
(WVUE)

Many homes appeared destroyed, but the full extent of the damage or possible injuries remains unclear at this time. 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

Roofs were blown off houses in Arabi, Louisiana when a tornado touched down Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
(WVUE)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.