Some areas reported wind damage, including missing shingles and downed power lines. Firefighters called it a “complete pancake collapse”. Two people suffered minor injuries during the incidents.
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Police are consulting with the National Weather Service is assessing the damage to determine whether it was caused by a tornado or straight-line winds.
Another home that collapsed is at North Claiborne Avenue and St. Philip Street. The Fire Department was evaluating the damage to the neighboring structures Thursday night.
A third building, at 1336 Kerlerec St., across the street from McDonogh 35 High School in the 7th Ward, also collapsed, crashing into the wall of the occupied home next door. “They happened to be right near a building when it collapsed”, said Aaron Miller, director of the city’s homeland security office.
The National Weather Service said a funnel cloud was reported in the area, but it was unclear if it touched down.
City officials listed the houses in a Thursday evening update after the brief but intense storm hit.
Downbursts can cause significant damage. All of that heat rises rapidly and that cold air at the top collapses down to the ground and spreads out.
The storms are bringing wind gusts greater than 60 miles per hour along with hundreds of lightning strikes and the potential for hail and flooding rain.
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The collapses left massive amounts of debris on various streets, particularly on Claiborne.
