Slidell neighbor talks about tornado recovery efforts

Kenny Lopez
·1 min read

SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) — There’s extensive damage along Old Spanish Trail in Slidell, where an EF-1 tornado ripped through on Wednesday, April 10.

A Slidell neighbor spoke with WGNO about riding out the tornado.

Jimmy Bennett lives on Dee Street, just off of Old Spanish Trail. Power poles fell on several homes on his street.

PHOTOS: Storms in Southeast Louisiana cause flooded streets, damage

Bennett said that the tornado was so powerful that he couldn’t even open his front door to go inside for safety. Luckily, with enough force, he was able to open the door to his home and take shelter inside.

“The transformer blew, limbs everywhere, everything was flying, and it was trying to pull me away from the door. It was trying to suck me away from my porch,” Bennett said.

Cleanup efforts are underway as the community bands together to support one another.

“Just finishing cleaning up with the chainsaw and all. I am cutting the rest of the trees in the front and the back,” he said.

Welding all the way to strawberry school

He says priorities for him now include getting the power back on and getting more gas for his chainsaw so he can continue the recovery efforts by cutting down the broken trees all around his home.

St. Tammany Parish Government leaders say that 25,000 residents are still without power. Crews are working to restore power, but it could take a few days.

There’s a distribution site in Slidell at Fritchie Park where they are distributing water, ice, tarps and hot meals. Lunch will be served at 11:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.

Parish leaders also said another location at 901 Old Spanish Trail will serve dinner at 5 p.m. at the emergency response vehicle in the parking lot.

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