By ROBIN SHANNON
L’Observateur

EDGARD — Wicked weather, which produced a small tornado that damaged several homes in an Edgard trailer park, tore through parts of Southeast Louisiana early Friday morning causing damage throughout St. John and leaving hundreds without electricity.

Officials at AMP/JFP Trailer Park on River Road in Edgard said nine of the 15 homes in the park received some level of damage when the severe weather blew through the area about 12:30 a.m. Friday.

“Residents told me that they felt their trailers shake back and forth, and some could see their walls buckling,” said Mike Doran, general manager of the park. “Some of the trailers had block damage and others had roof damage. One trailer, which was unoccupied, was completely destroyed.”

The storm blew debris across the park and scattered some residents’ belongings, but no injuries were reported.

“Materials can be replaced and put back together, but you can’t get a life back,” said Doran. “I personally went door to door to make sure everyone was OK. A lot of them were shaken up, but no one was hurt.”

Anika Washington, a resident of the park who was home when the storm blew through, said she was jolted awake by the sound of the wind.

“It certainly does sound like a train is coming through,” said Washington, 32. “I woke up, heard the wind and got everyone together in the bathroom.”

Washington, who is seven months pregnant, said she grabbed her two children and squeezed them to her sides until the worst was over.

“It felt like that baby was coming out that night,” said Washington. “I thank God that we were all alright.”

Washington said her trailer suffered minor damage to the roof, but not enough to keep the family out of it. She said she is getting help from the Red Cross for repairs.

St. John Public Information Officer Buddy Boe said other than the destruction at the trailer home, much the parish was spared of any serious damage.

“Trees were blown down into yards and the marquee in front of the Percy Hebert Building was twisted around, but nothing major.”

Boe said Entergy reported about 1,500 customers were left without electricity at some point during the storm, but most power was restored by the end of the day Friday.