Families and businesses are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter. President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says the devastation is widespread.
the sytem killed 11 in Missisipi, while Louisiana escaped without any fatalities, but it did do an estimated 25-30 million in damages at the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under a collapsed hangar. The airport is closed today and Abraham says it could be some time before it gets back up and running.
Abraham says they’ve reached out to both state and federal officials to begin the process of getting aid for the airport and other businesses that have been destroyed.
Thousands in north Louisiana are without power a day after powerful storms ripped through the region. Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese warns some customers may not have their power back on until later this week due to the extensive amount of damage to infrastructure.
At the Sunday afternoon peak, 26,500 customers were without power, but that number has come down over the last 24 hours. SWEPCO is reporting eight-thousand of its Louisiana customers are without power as well. It may take until Wednesday afternoon before most of their Shreveport customers have electricity.
Louisiana residents who are receiving unemployment should see a substantial increase in assistance starting today. Governor Edwards says previously unemployed workers were only eligible for up to 247-dollars from the state
That additional 600 dollars comes courtesy of the feds.