New Orleans Tornadoes Confirmed In Tuesday Storm, State of Emergency Declared (UPDATE)

At least six tornadoes moved through the southeastern part of Louisiana Tuesday causing widespread damage, power outages and closing down a major highway. The National Weather Service warns of damage reports coming in from New Orleans East, urging residents to avoid the area and authorities have declared a state of emergency.

A tornado watch is in effect for multiple Louisiana parishes until 5 p.m. Just after 1 p.m., the area under around New Orleans was clear of tornado warnings.

In East New Orleans, crews are responding to several reports of damage in the affected area, according to a press release sent out by the city. No information is currently available regarding possible injuries, fatalities or damage assessment. Residents are warned to be cautious of downed power leans, gas leaks and other debris and to avoid the impacted areas.

Tornado damage has closed Interstate 10 at Chef Menteur Highway Downman Road. Chef Highway is also closed between Interstate 10 and Interstate 510 until further notice, according to New Orleans police. Entergy New Orleans reports that about 10,000 customers are without power in the metro New Orleans area.

Fire crews are conducting a primary search of homes from Chef Menteur Highway to Dwyer Street and Wilson Avenue to Bullard Avenue, as well as one block south of Chef Menteur Highway. A temporary shelter is being opened at Joe W. Brown Memorial Park.

A shuttle service has been announced to take residents to the shelter.

About an hour away in Donaldsville, the city's posted photos of the damage the town sustained to Facebook. Videos showed downed power lines and debris in the street. A NASA facility was also impacted by the storm.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is being briefed on the storm damage from multiple tornadoes by the state's department of emergency management. Edwards will travel to New Orleans to assess damage, though details on the visit are not currently known.

The governor has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana following the severe weather, according to Richard Carbo, communications director for Bel Edwards.

"I am heartbroken to once again see Louisiana families suffering in the wake of devastating tornadoes today," Edwards said in a statement. "We are working tirelessly to ensure that every citizen affected by this storm receives the resources they need as quickly as possible."

Images and videos posted to social media show dramatic shots of the tornadoes.

A video posted by WWLTV shows a roof getting blown off and an 18-wheeler falling on its side.

In its long term forecast discussion, the NWS said severe thunderstorms are expected Tuesday across the lower Mississippi Valley and central Gulf Coast states, with isolated strong to severe thunderstorms possible as far north as the Tennessee Valley and Ohio Valley.

Photos posted to social media also show preliminary damage from the storm with debris lying on the ground and cars and trees toppled over.

In January, tornadoes that ripped through Mississippi and Georgia left more than a dozen people dead. Louisiana's last bout with severe weather came in August of 2016 when catastrophic flooding, dubbed by the Red Cross as the worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy, damaged tens of thousands of homes and businesses in the Baton Rouge area.

Patch will update this breaking news story as more information becomes available.

Image Credit: NWS