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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service New Orleans LA
1135 AM CDT Thu Mar 24 2022


...NWS Damage Survey for March 22, 2022 Tornado Event...

...Update...Arabi Tornado Information Added to the Lacombe 
Tornado Information...


..Arabi, LA EF3 Tornado...

Rating:                 EF3
Estimated Peak Wind:    160 mph
Path Length /statute/:  11.5 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   320 yards
Fatalities: 1
Injuries: Unknown, but at least 2

Start Date:             03/22/2022
Start Time:             07:21 PM CDT
Start Location:         1 E Harvey / Jefferson Parish / LA
Start Lat/Lon:          29.8849 / -90.0535

End Date:               03/22/2022
End Time:               07:38 PM CDT
End Location:           3 SSW East New Orleans / Orleans Parish /
LA
End Lat/Lon:            30.0292 / -89.9604

Survey Summary:
A tornado touched down in Jefferson Parish, southwest of
Terrytown. It moved northeast through Jefferson Parish and into
Orleans Parish. As it moved northeast through the westbank, it
caused minor tree damage as well as structural damage. This damage
consisted of minor roof, siding and fence damage. There was video
footage of the tornado crossing the Mississippi River and damage
was found on the eastbank as it moved into St. Bernard Parish,
into the town of Arabi. The most intense damage was from the
riverbank to the canal in Arabi. It was a very narrow, intense
tornado with two areas of concentrated EF3 damage. One was a house
that was swept off its raised foundation with all walls and the
roof destroyed. This was near where the one fatality occurred. Due
to poor construction, this was EF3. The highest EF3 rating was
given to a house that was constructed in the last 6 months. While
this house was raised on cinder blocks, every tower of blocks had
strapping to the house. The house had additional strapping
directly into the foundation, as well as strapping from the cinder
blocks to the foundation. The house itself held together but was
shifted about 50 yards to the north and rotated about 90 degrees.
The house next door was also swept off the foundation, moved and
mostly destroyed. This also had some evidence of strapping to the
slab foundation. This area is what will justify the 160 MPH EF3
rating. Most if not all houses on the south to north path within a
4 block west to east range received minor to substantial roof 
damage with many houses seeing walls collapsed, leaving interior 
rooms intact. The tornado then damaged electrical towers on the 
bank of the canal before moving northeast across the canal. Damage
was noted on the other side of the Intracoastal Waterway in New 
Orleans East and continued northeast. This damage was minor tree 
damage and minor roof and siding damage. It is estimated the 
tornado lifted before Joe W Brown Memorial park. There were also 
at least two injuries noted from the survey but additional 
injuries will need to be reported from the local officials. 

Satellite data has still not yet been received and drone video has
not been fully analyzed. Length, width and timing information may
be updated in the coming days. This data is all preliminary until
it is finalized in the official NWS Storm Data record.

Special thanks to St. Bernard, Jefferson and New Orleans Parish Emergency 
Management and safety officials.

NASH/DUPLANTIS

.Lacombe Tornado...

Rating:                 EF1
Estimated Peak Wind:    90 mph
Path Length /statute/:  12.2 miles
Path Width /maximum/:   100 yards
Fatalities:             0
Injuries:               0

Start Date:             03/22/2022
Start Time:             7:25 PM CDT
Start Location:         3.8 miles WNW Lacombe/St. Tammany LA
Start Lat/Lon:          30.337/-90008

End Date:               03/22/2022
End Time:               7:33 PM CDT
End Location:           11.85 NNE Lacombe/St.Tammany LA
End Lat/Lon:            30.4782/-89.8802

Survey Summary:
A tornado touched down near Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife
Refuge on Highway 190. Damage began at homes just north of 190,
including minor roof damage, a shed destroyed, and dozens of trees
snapped. The tornado continued NE and similar damage was noted
along Azalea St and Cane Bayou Ln. A tree was uprooted on the
corner of Lound Dr and Blackwell Dr. The tornado crossed I-12 and
continued NE to Fish Hatchery Rd. Radar showed a tornado debris
signature in rural areas between 190 and Fish Hatchery Rd. The
tornado track continued NE and began to track along Highway 1088
just SW of Highway 36. In this area, dozens of trees were downed
and snapped along the highway. Based on radar, the tornado
continued another 3 miles north of Highway 36, into rural areas. 
The general type of damage seen throughout the path of the tornado
ranged from strong EF0 to weak EF1, with a max wind rating of 
90mph. 

EFFERSON/LISNEY

&&

EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:

EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph

NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWS
Storm Data.

$$