KENTWOOD, La. — Strong winds and a possible tornado swept through Kentwood, La., on Friday afternoon, damaging buildings and knocking down utility lines in town and blocking traffic for a brief time on Interstate 55.
There was extensive damage on Avenue C and Avenue A on the north side of Kentwood, and on Avenue J on the south side of town.
Trees and power lines were blocking some streets Friday afternoon. Houses along Avenue A were damaged by falling trees, as was the Kentwood Lions Club building on Avenue C.
Trees were reportedly blown across Interstate 55, leading to significant traffic delays south of the state line.
Traffic was reportedly being diverted off the interstate, but all lanes had reopened by about 5:30.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or fatalities.
Avenue J resident Frank Cohn said he managed to sleep through the storm that knocked a sizable live oak tree on his house.
Cohn said he had removed some trees to his house, which he had added a roof, siding and additional rooms to, and he had planned on removing the massive live oak that fell on it Friday before Mother Nature took care of that.
Cohn said he and his family made it out OK.
“I’m good, man,” he said.
Cohn said he arrived home from work at 12:30 p.m. and went to sleep before the storm hit, and he managed to sleep through it.
His family was planning on staying in a motel Friday night.
“I’ve been on the phone with everybody — insurance, tree man, the ones who’s going to clean up everything,” Cohn said.
