Power Outage in Homer, LA

Trees and power lines downed.

Trees and power lines downed.

Trees and power lines were blown down all over Central and Southern Claiborne Parish, including Highway 519 southeast of Athens.

Several trees and power lines were downed east of Homer.

Several trees and power lines were blown down near and west of Homer.

A few trees and powerlines were downed across Hwy. 520 near Homer, Louisiana.

An NWS Storm Survey team determined that damage in Claiborne Parish was consistent with that of an EF1 tornado. The tornado first touched down 7 miles east southeast of Haynesville, Louisiana. Damage consisted of numerous trees uprooted and/or snapped. Several trees took out powerlines in the area. One house received major damage as a tree fell on the house. Winds were estimated to be between 95 and 105 mph. The path width was 820 yards wide while the path length was 9.29 miles long.

Hundreds of trees were downed in and around the city of Homer, Louisiana. Wind damage was extensive in Homer, Louisiana with approximately 100 homes suffering minor damage. Approximately 45-50 homes sustained major damage with 15-17 homes completely destroyed. Over 4000 residents were without power with restoration time expected to be some 3 to 5 days. There were no injuries reported for this event. There was also damage to several businesses as well as the local elementary school in Homer, Louisiana. The Region 7 coordinator for Northern Louisiana was called in to access the damage and it was determined that across all of Claiborne Parish for this event, preliminary monetary damage assessment was 5.6 million dollars which covers private and public expenses for damage.

Trees and powerlines were downed in the Weldon, Louisiana community.

Numerous trees and powerlines were downed east of Minden, Louisiana.

Several trees were downed across Claiborne Parish along the north northwest side of Homer, Louisiana. A tree was removed from Stadium Drive directly behind the Haynesville Jr./Sr. High School. Trees fell onto powerlines causing property damage at a residence on Talley Street.

Several trees and power lines were downed across the town of Homer, Louisiana.

The remnants of Tropical Storm Ike resulted in widespread trees and power lines downed throughout all of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana. Power outages were widespread as well with numerous residents without power during the height of the storm and days afterward.

The remnants of Hurricane Gustav resulted in several reports of downed trees and power lines throughout Claiborne Parish. Parish officials reported upwards of 30 trees downed across the parish during the height of the storm which resulted in scattered power outages.

Powerlines were blown down in the Norton Corner Community.

Numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the parish. Estimated 2000 residents were without power. Estimated wind gusts were near 50 mph.

Trees and power lines downed near Bella Vista and La. Hwy 2.

Trees and power lines downed.

Trees and power lines downed.

Power lines were blown down.

Some of the northern Parishes in north Louisiana experienced their second ice storm in as many weeks while others who missed out on the first storm experienced widespread icing problems. Freezing rain accumulations ranged from 1/4 to near 1 inch mainly north of Interstate 20. The Shreveport - Bossier metroplex were not affected by this second storm but widespread power outages were reported across Minden, Homer, Arcadia, Farmerville, Ruston, and Monroe Louisiana. 50,000 residents lost power due to ice accumulations on power lines and fallen trees and snapped trees limbs broken power lines.

An artic airmass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold surface airmass was overrun by a warm and humid airmass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas. The result was widespread freezing rain. Ice accumulations on average of one inch were common north and west of a line from Mansfield and Arcadia to Farmerville LA. An estimated 235,000 residents lost power from snapped power lines. Upwards of 29 transmission lines atop "H" shaped steel towers were snapped due to the weight of the ice. One man was killed and another injured when a tree limb laden with ice fell on them. Numerous traffic accidents were reported from ice covered roads and bridges. In the Shreveport - Bossier metroplex more than 205 streets were either blocked or partially blocked by limbs and fallen trees. Much of northwest Louisiana was declared a disaster area.

A strong upper level trough moved out of the southern Great Basin and into the Lower Mississippi Valley pulling Artic Air southward to the Gulf Coast. Moisture laden air from the Gulf of Mexico moved northward and overran freezing surface temperatures producing an ice storm across the region. Ice accumulations of one to four inches left upwards of 30,000 homes without power due to ice covered tree limbs which snapped and dropped powerlines. Bienville, Clariborne, Lincoln, Ouachita, Union and Webster parishes were declared disaster areas and became eligable for federal aid. Total area damage in these zones ran nearly 7 million dollars. Damage breakdown by individual Parish are not available through this source. Hundreds of chicken houses and carports collapsed from the weight of the ice and snow.