A massive tornado ripped through Louisiana where it decimated neighborhoods, downed power lines, and killed a woman in her mobile home, as a string of twisters wreaked havoc in the Deep South on Monday.
On Monday afternoon more than 70 tornado warnings were in effect across Louisiana and Mississippi and there were at least 33 tornado reports.
The most aggressive of the storms was an ‘extremely dangerous’ twister that pummeled the northwest of Alexandria, Louisiana, located about 200 miles northwest of New Orleans, starting at 12.30pm.
The tornado traveled a whopping 63 miles from DeRidder to Alexandria.
Betty Patin, 59, was in her mobile home on Borel Road in Rosepine when the storm hit it and killed her, according to the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Harrowing video footage captures a massive tornado ripped through Louisiana on Monday. This clip shows the tornado near Rosepine, Louisiana before it swirled towards Alexandria
A massive tornado ripped through Louisiana where it decimated communities, downed power lines, and killed a woman in her mobile home on Monday afternoon
Trucks are covered in debris from the TrimLine building from severe weather on John Allison Drive in Alexandria, Louisiana on Monday
This photo shows some damage to a building from severe weather to a building on John Allison Dr. in Alexandria on Monday
A system of severe weather storms hit the Deep South on Monday afternoon. This building was it so badly it was left as mangled skeleton of metal
This power line was brought down and surrounded by debris after the massive storm ripped through Alexandria on Monday afternoon
The National Weather Service announced a tornado emergency for the area of Alexandria, home to 47,000 people. The warning meant there was a severe threat to human life and catastrophic damage is imminent.
‘A confirmed large and destructive tornado was observed near Alexandria International Airport, moving northeast at 25 mph. This a DANGEROUS SITUATION. TAKE COVER NOW,’ the tornado warning said.
By Monday evening the NOAA Storm Prediction Center had received at least 24 preliminary reports of tornadoes.
Highway 28 was partially closed due to the tornado warning.
Vernon Parish County was hit particularly hard in the vicious storm, though no other injuries have been reported yet.
‘We’ve got damage at lots of places. We’ve got a church where the fellowship hall is torn all to pieces. Some homes are hit. Right now we’re having trouble just getting to places because of tress that are down,’ Vernon Parish Chief Deputy Calvin Turner said to the Associated Press.
Jason Ford stands in his damaged mobile home on Highway 567, north of Liberty, Mississippi on Monday
The grounds of the destroyed Johnny Downs Sports Complex in Alexandria pictured above
Vehicles were damaged by severe weather on Highway 28 in Alexandria on Monday
A beam and other rubble is strewn on the ground in front of what was Hope Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana
The Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office shared this picture of downed trees and a powerline in Deriddler, Louisiana after the monster twister razed the area
A tornado sighting in Foxworth, Mississippi Monday evening around 7pm EST pictured above
Lee County officials and the Pratts-Friendship Fire Department work to check an area on Highway 370 near Baldwyn, Mississippi after a tornado passed through the area
Shane Keith and other volunteers help search debris and try to salvage what they can from their church that was completely destroyed in a tornado that touched down in Guntown, Mississippi
Crews worked into the night in Mississippi checking in on an area near Baldwyn that was hit by a tornado Monday evening
Harrowing photos from the damage left in the wake of the storm show power lines downed, roofs blown off homes, buildings collapsed.
In some instances people got trapped inside their home, according to the Beauregard Sheriff’s Office as per KPLC.
The Hope Baptist Church and School along Highway 28 in Louisiana suffered severe damage where the building fell under the weight of the roof and little was left standing of the original building.
After the tornado tore through the area, Beauregard Electric crews were on the scene to remove debris and restore power lines.
Weather experts say the Louisiana tornado ripped through a 63-mile path
Thunderstorms are forecast to continue Monday night affected Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi
Mississippi was also hit by the ‘widespread’ weather system that hit the South on Monday.
Entergy Mississippi, an electric utility company, reported more than 2,000 power outages in the state, concentrated mostly west of Jackson.
As a result of the weather precautions schools cancelled afternoon events and activities in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi.
As of Monday evening, the tornado watch warning was over but coastal Mississippi may still see isolated severe storms tonight.