Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards visits tornado-ravaged Arabi, reassures residents

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards arrived in Arabi Wednesday to find a neighborhood still reeling from the aftermath of Tuesday’s F3 tornado. 

Families could be seen emptying kitchen cabinets from the streets after the more than 158 mph winds tore away walls. 

Ten-year-old Isabella Dalon put out a stack of bottled water with a handwritten sign: “Arabi strong. Take if needed.”

On Benjamin Street, the family of Connr Lambert, St. Bernard Parish’s only tornado fatality, stood in a prayer circle mourning the loss. Edwards met with Lambert’s grandfather, Bob Lambert Sr., and offered his condolences. 

“I want you to know people all over the state of Louisiana are praying for y’all,” Edwards said. 

‘I’m trying to get to my son’:New Orleans area reels from tornadoes

'Please don't let me die.':Woman recalls moment tornado swept through Arabi neighborhood

In the middle of his survey of the damage, Edwards stopped to take questions about the path to recovery for a parish that he said “lost more population after Katrina than any other parish in the state.”

“The nature of this tornado just doesn’t make sense,” Edwards said. “The lesson we can take from this is what it means to be neighbors to one another." 

In addition to the fatality, eight people were injured and taken to the hospital after the tornado, which struck between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The state began search and rescues in the dark Tuesday night, Edwards said, and continued those Wednesday. Collectively, more than 1,000 national guardsmen, state police officers and state fire marshal personnel were in Arabi Wednesday, many of which were aiding with cleanup or traffic flow. 

New Orleans tornado:One dead and multiple injuries reported as two tornadoes hit New Orleans area Tuesday night

Damage:See photos, videos of tornado damage throughout New Orleans and surrounding areas

Edwards also said that he hopes power is restored to the remaining 2,500 homes without electricity soon. Approximately 16,000 homes had been without power Tuesday night. 

“If there’s a silver lining, it’s that we have beautiful weather and are expected to have that for several days,” Edwards said. “There are crews all over Arabi and I expect we’ll see good progress made on restoration.”

Edwards asked people to self-report home damage to damage.la.gov. When asked about receiving federal disaster assistance, Edwards said he didn’t know if they would meet the threshold, which requires $7.6 million in damage to public infrastructure. But he said he received calls from FEMA and the White House today.

The last major tornado to hit New Orleans was in 2017, when an F3 tore through New Orleans East. Edwards said the state qualified for individual assistance but not public assistance after that tornado. 

“The good news is the legislature is in session,” Edwards said. "We're going to find the quickest way to deliver the assistance they need here to get the debris removed." 

Renee Wineski was one of those who spoke with the governor during his survey of the area. She said he seemed “very concerned.”

Wineski was visiting her son and daughter-in-law, whose house she said was “totaled” after having the roof and one wall sheared off. 

“It was nice of him,” Wineski said. “I firmly believe that we will rebuild bigger and better.”

News tips? Questions? Call reporter Andrew Yawn at 985-285-7689 or email him at ayawn@gannett.com. Sign up for The American South newsletter. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.