Genevieve St. hit hardest as system crashed through

Parts of St. Mary Parish were subjected to one of Mother Nature’s most violent displays Tuesday after a tornado briefly swept through an area between Franklin and Baldwin resulting in damage to property and at least one injury, particularly on Genevieve Street.
According to one eyewitness, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the twister set down and lasted no more than a few minutes. But in that time it caused damage to power lines, trees and structures in the area.
Michael Ann Hebert said the tornado shook her home but did not cause any damage. Hebert said she managed to get a look at the tornado before it dissipated.
“It was definitely a tornado,” Hebert said. “I looked out my front door and actually saw the tornado. Things were swirling in the air. It lasted about a minute. But everyone here was safe.”
According to a press release from the vice president of Acadiana Ambulance, the same could not be said for all St. Mary Parish residents. The statement from Randall Mann indicated one patient was transported to an area hospital for injuries related to the tornado. The identity of the victim was not immediately available.
Jeff Hildreth, Assistant Fire Chief with the Franklin Fire Department, said in a statement to the Banner-Tribune, that the call to respond to the storm event came at approximately 2:25 p.m. and was initially regarding downed power lines on Genevieve Street in between Franklin and Baldwin.
Hildreth said, while enroute to the scene, the call was upgraded to a response to tornadic activity including a call to respond to three people trapped in a collapsed building. The outcome of the three victims trapped was not immediately available.
Aiding in the effort were fire departments from Baldwin, Centerville, Patterson, District 11 and the Chitimacha Tribe as well as the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baldwin Police Department, Franklin PD and the parish Department of Homeland Security. Hildreth said, at the height of the operation, there were nine trucks and 45 firefighters on the scene.
Hebert said she had spoken to some of those in the affected area and that no one had reported any injuries.
“We’ve had hurricanes but never a tornado,” Hebert said. “I heard the wind pick up and then things started to fly through the air. I’m just grateful no one was hurt.”
La. 182 was closed for most of the afternoon and into the evening between Caffery Curve and the Baldwin Bridge. La. 87 from the Katy Bridge to about Myette Point was also closed. Both were due to downed power lines and snapped utility poles.
Franklin experienced severe flooding, with tremendous amounts of rainfall in a short period of time. Several streets were closed by Franklin Police, and city crews were clearing basins and other work throughout town.