Pregnant woman among 3 dead as severe storms, tornadoes leave trail of damage across southwest Louisiana
LAKE CHARLES, La. – Officials have confirmed three tornadoes as severe storms tore across southwestern Louisiana on Monday, killing three people - including a pregnant woman and her unborn child - and causing extensive damage to homes and businesses in the region.
Two of the twisters hit the Lake Charles area.
The first started at 4:41 p.m. CT in Sulphur, just west of Lake Charles, and caused damage near a Walmart store. Damaged and overturned cars were seen in the parking lot of a strip mall across the street from the Walmart. Warehouses in the area were also damaged. The National Weather Service rated this tornado an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, saying it had maximum winds of 120 mph.
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The second began four minutes later in the Westlake neighborhood and moved southeast into Lake Charles proper. Damage to windows and roof damage to businesses and a church were reported in the area. This twister was rated an EF-1 and had maximum winds of 100 mph.
A third tornado happened about two hours later in Henderson, nearly 90 miles east of Lake Charles. Officials said a woman died from injuries she suffered when the storm flipped her camper. The Henderson tornado was rated an EF-2 with maximum winds of 120 mph.
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Late Monday, a tragic incident occurred in West Baton Rouge Parish. A tree fell on a mobile home, killing a 31-year-old pregnant woman inside, according to Sheriff Mike Cazes with the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.
"The female was nine months pregnant at the time of her death," the Louisiana Department of Health said in a press release. "The fetus did not survive and is being counted as the third storm-related death."
Cazes said a man and a 5-year-old child also trapped inside the home were successfully rescued and taken to the hospital, where they are expected to recover.
Original article source: Pregnant woman among 3 dead as severe storms, tornadoes leave trail of damage across southwest Louisiana
