Scores of families in the Monroe community are without lights and housing in the aftermath of an Easter Sunday tornado that tore through several Monroe communities at about noon Sunday, April 12, 2020.
The tornadoes destroyed homes and businesses, toppled trees and knocked out electricity across several areas of Louisiana and other states on Sunday as it swept across the South.
Nearly 6,000 customers in Mississippi had no power, and more than 21,000 homes and businesses in Texas were left without electricity.
At least 40 homes were damaged in Monroe’s Southside.
Videos and stills taken by Free Press photographers showed extensive damage in South Monroe.
No fatalities are reported at this time. Officials say there are a few injuries. The extent of these injuries is unclear.
In Monroe, officials say several neighborhoods received damage. In West Monroe, officials reported significant damage on the south side of the city. There were also reports of trees down across various parts of the parish, including the Bawcomville area and the Fairbanks area.
Sunday, officials are reaching out to hotel owners to see about securing rooms for displaced residents. They expect to need around 200 rooms.
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