It’s a grim scene in Ruston today. A tornado hit the city around 2:15 a.m. causing widespread damage. According to initial reports, the storm caused two casualties near Interstate-20.
National Weather Service had been tracking the storm from the Texas - Louisiana Border.
The tornado caused significant damages to some residential houses, shopping centers, motels, and gas stations. The storm knocked down numerous powerlines. At the peak of the storm ten thousand residents lost electricity. Ruston mayor Ronnie Walker says that a shelter has been opened at the Glen View Elementary School for people whose homes were damaged by the tornado and its debris.
Mayor Walker said the city is working hard to access the damaged areas and ensure the safety of the residents. “It’s going to take days and weeks for us to recover. The city is a strong city, it always has been and will continue to be."
Louisiana Tech’s campus was hit hard by the storm. There has been significant damage to its softball, baseball, and track fields. There are also some minor damages in the residential dorms. Louisiana Tech President, Les Guice, says that quite a few roads are blocked on campus and they are still assessing the damage. To ensure safety, the campus will be closed tomorrow.
For now, authorities are trying to assess the magnitude of the damage
For public safety, the city of Ruston will implement a curfew from 10 pm until 6am until it is lifted.
