Tornado in West Beaumont- Walmart, Kohl's, Parkdale Mall hit

[southerngale]

Oh my! I'm not sure if this was a tornado or not, but it sounds like it may have been. They've evacuated all of Parkdale Mall and the other stores hit. Local news has confirmed injuries and ambulances taking people away. The roof at Kohl's collapsed, but they're saying that the damage at Walmart was worse than Kohl's. Details still coming in.

Now on TV: many cars flipped and tossed around in the Walmart parking lot!

Parkdale Mall...Macy's, Walmart, Kohl's, Barnes and Nobles. My sister lives MAYBE a mile from Walmart! They're lights blinked, but they were having a terrible storm. No warnings that I'm aware of. My weather alert didn't go off.

Witnesses saw a funnel cloud before the damage, and captured images. I've only seen them on TV so far.

Strong, sudden winds cause damage in West Beaumont

Ashley Rodrigue reports one car on top of another car in the Wal-Mart parking lot
August 18, 2009 2:03 PM
Scott Lawrence

The Beaumont Fire Department is responding to a report of several injuries at Kohl's Department Store on Dowlen Road.

Officer Crystal Holmes with Beaumont Police said a possible tornado touched down at Kohl's, jumped over to Wal-Mart, and continued to Parkdale Mall.

The primary damage at the scene, as reported by Ashley Rodrigue was to the roof at Kohl's Department store.

Rodrigue also reported large pieces of debris in the parking lot. She reports that there's one vehicle on top of another vehicle in the parking lot across the street at Wal-Mart.

A dispatcher first told KFDM News after 2:00p.m. there was a report of some type of weather-related damage to the building.

Police are shutting down Dowlen Road and wanting people to stay away from the area.

Stay with KFDM News for details.

http://www.kfdm.com/news/responding-33622-department-fire.html

08/18 Storm Damages Parkdale Mall
Reported by: Scott Price

Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009 @02:06pm CST

A heavy storm this afternoon has damaged Parkdale Mall.

It happened just before 2:00p.m.

Witnesses say it appeared to be a tornado in the area of Dowlen Road.

Another witness tells FOX 4 that it was a funnel cloud that was about 10 seconds from becoming a tornado.

According to the Beaumont Police Department there are several injuries at Walmart.

They also say that part of the roof at Kohl's collapsed.

Some people suffered minor injuries and are trapped.

The storm busted several windows and damaged some of the exterior walls at Parkdale Mall.

We also have reports a portion of the roof near Macy's has been ripped up.

Windows were also busted out of vehicles in the mall parking lot.

Stay with SetxHomepage and Fox 4 News for the latest on this story.

http://setxhomepage.com/content/fulltext/?cid=63122

[southerngale]

Miraculously, there haven't been any serious injuries or deaths. I heard one man on the news saying that over 50% of Kohl's store sustaining damage was being conservative and it would likely have to be rebuilt from the ground up. The news just reported 1/3 of the roof came down. I saw aerial coverage from a Houston station that flew over here and you could see the twisted up debris inside the store. I don't know how anyone wasn't killed or seriously injured. It's a miracle. I heard a story where a lady was in her car in the Walmart parking lot. The tornado twisted her car around, picked up the car next to her and put it on top of her car. She was physically fine, but went into shock. If that was me, that would have been the first death. I probably would have died from a heart attack! A lot of cars tossed around and stacked on other cars, some carts twisted up, others not even touched.

BREAKING NEWS: Severe Weather Causes Heavy Damage in Beaumont
News KBMT
Story Created: Aug 18, 2009 at 2:35 PM CDT
Story Updated: Aug 18, 2009 at 4:27 PM CDT

Reports of tornados in Beaumont's west end around 2 Tuesday afternoon. Beaumont police say there are injuries and two people have been sent to hospitals. Officials say Wal-Marts roof collapsed and people are being evacuated at this time. Witnesses say the doors of Kohl's have been blown in and aerial video shows a large hole in the roof of the building. Witnesses also say Macy's has received damaged. KBMT-12 will have team coverage of the storm damage tonight at 5, 6, and 10.

At this time people are being asked to avoid the Dowlen Road area near Parkdale Mall and Wal-Mart to allow emergency vehicles to get throught the scene easier.

The possible tornado hit the area near Old Dowlen road Dowlen Road.

At this time the National Weather Service is enroute from Lake Charles to confirm if the storm produced an actual tornado.

http://www.kbmt12.com/news/local/53587647.html

[Flyinman]

My Dad was just a couple of miles away at Dowlen and Delaware in a meeting. They never knew anything happened until the meeting was over. I am anxious to see the news in the next few minutes. Man I moved last year and all kinds of things have been happening in Beaumont!!

[Shoshana]

Scary! I hope every one is ok!

[southerngale]

Viewer catches funnel cloud on Blackberry

I've seen a lot of pictures on the news and I'm sure there will be more to post soon.

[vbhoutex]

After watching the video I don't think there is any doubt that it was a tornado, not a funnel cloud. Just because we don't see a debris cloud like one does with midwest tornados(most) doesn't mean it didn't touch down. Obviously it did from the damage pictures I've seen. Of course NWS will have the final say on this. When I heard about it I was hoping you weren't out shopping Kelly!

[southerngale]

I believe NWS is there now, accessing the damage. Yeah, it seems quite certain it was a tornado.

There were NO watches or warnings!!

Tornado causes damage in West Beaumont

BEAUMONT - A few department stores in Beaumont's West End were struck by a sudden tornado Tuesday afternoon according to Greg Bostwick and the KFDM Weather Team.

Release from the Beaumont Police Department:

* This afternoon at 1:58 p.m., a confirmed tornado struck the Parkdale Mall area of Beaumont. A witness videoed the tornado as it traveled West to East. The tornado struck the retail business area along Dowlen Road, between Eastex Freeway and Old Dowlen Road.
* Kohl's Department store sustained significant damage to the roof. The tornado caused many cars to overturn in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Many vehicles were damaged due to flying debris. Several injuries were reported due to flying debris but none appear to be life-threatening.
* The tornado also damaged the Barnes and Nobles/Petco shopping strips well as several businesses at Parkdale Mall. (6155 Eastex Freeway)
* Emergency Management Officials are asking that citizens avoid this area of the city in an effort to make passage of Emergency Vehicles more accessible. There will be certain area's that will be denied access until the debris is cleaned away and services restored. Teams are out at this time assessing damage of the area.
* Entergy (electricity provider) is on scene clearing and repairing lines. Centerpoint Energy (natural gas provider) is also in the area checking several minor gas leaks.

Here's the latest report on the area around the damage:

* (Update 4:04PM) - Part of Dowlen Road are still blocked so emergency crews can continue tending to the scene.

KFDM is receiving updates and reports from several sources and reporters. We're going to add it all to the website.

* (Update 3:45PM) Jacqueline Conger tells KFDM News fewer than 10 people were admitted to Christus St. Elizabeth with cuts and bruises. No serious injuries.



Original Report - The Beaumont Fire Department is responding to a report of several injuries at Kohl's Department Store on Dowlen Road.

Officer Crystal Holmes with Beaumont Police said a possible tornado touched down at Kohl's, jumped over to Wal-Mart, and continued to Parkdale Mall.

The primary damage at the scene, as reported by Ashley Rodrigue was to the roof at Kohl's Department store.

Rodrigue also reported large pieces of debris in the parking lot. She reports that there's one vehicle on top of another vehicle in the parking lot across the street at Wal-Mart.

A dispatcher first told KFDM News after 2:00p.m. there was a report of some type of weather-related damage to the building.

Police are shutting down Dowlen Road and wanting people to stay away from the area.

Stay with KFDM News for details.

[Nederlander]

I was just a few blocks away near the intersection of Hwy 105 and US 69 at work when it happened... scary stuff

[weatherguy425]

No, but there was a Special weather statment addresssing possible "tropical funnel clouds" and it did warn that while not likely one could touchdown.

[southerngale]

No, but there was a Special weather statment addresssing possible "tropical funnel clouds" and it did warn that while not likely one could touchdown.

I realize that. I'm pasting it below. The point I was making was that nobody saw it coming. Once it started forming, it wasn't even spotted on radar... you know how you can sometimes see the rotation on radar. There was never a warning and we weren't under any watches. The fire department was dispatched because it set off a fire alarm. Apparently, they thought they were responding to a fire at first.

Btw, I recognize you from KHOU. Welcome to Storm2k!

Special Weather Statement

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA
903 AM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009

LAZ027>033-041>045-051>055-TXZ180>182-201-215-216-182200-
VERNON-RAPIDES-AVOYELLES-BEAUREGARD-ALLEN-EVANGELINE-ST. LANDRY-
CALCASIEU-JEFFERSON DAVIS-ACADIA-LAFAYETTE-UPPER ST. MARTIN-
CAMERON-VERMILION-IBERIA-ST. MARY-LOWER ST. MARTIN-TYLER-JASPER-
NEWTON-HARDIN-JEFFERSON-ORANGE-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LEESVILLE...ALEXANDRIA...MARKSVILLE...
DERIDDER...OAKDALE...VILLE PLATTE...OPELOUSAS...LAKE CHARLES...
JENNINGS...CROWLEY...LAFAYETTE...ST. MARTINVILLE...CAMERON...
ABBEVILLE...NEW IBERIA...MORGAN CITY...WOODVILLE...JASPER...
NEWTON...LUMBERTON...BEAUMONT/PORT ARTHUR...ORANGE
903 AM CDT TUE AUG 18 2009

...TROPICAL FUNNEL CLOUDS POSSIBLE AGAIN TODAY...

A VERY MOIST AND UNSTABLE TROPICAL AIRMASS IS IN PLACE ACROSS THE
AREA. MEANWHILE...THE VERTICAL WIND PROFILE IS LIGHT AND
VARIABLE. THESE CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF
TROPICAL FUNNEL CLOUDS...ESPECIALLY WHERE RAIN COOLED
BOUNDARIES...KNOWN AS OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES...AND THE SEABREEZE
COLLIDE.

THESE TROPICAL FUNNEL CLOUDS ARE USUALLY SHORT-LIVED AND DO NOT
REACH THE GROUND. IF THE FUNNEL CLOUD BECOMES MORE SEVERE AND
REACHES THE GROUND...MINOR DAMAGE MAY OCCUR...AND A TORNADO
WARNING WILL LIKELY BE ISSUED.

STAY TUNED FOR LATER STATEMENTS AND UPDATES ON THIS WEATHER
SITUATION.

$$

[southerngale]

Story Updated: Aug 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM CDT

Around two this afternoon a F1 tornado with winds of 115 mph damaged multiple structures in the West End of Beaumont.

The National Weather Service says the tornado started at Kohl's moved to Wal-Mart before finally hitting the Parkdale Mall area. The entire event was over in five minutes.

[Diva]

I was in Parkdale Mall when all of this happened! My kids and I had been in Kohl's around noon and my teenaged son had been trying on clothes in the very dressing room that it appears people were trapped in! Scary stuff!!!!

We had made it to JCPenney's and got inside the mall about 15-30 minutes before the storm hit. We commented on how loud the wind sounded, even from inside the store. The lights flickered but we thought nothing of it. A few minutes later, customers were coming into JCP and commenting that Macy's roof had sustained damage from an apparent tornado. We didn't believe it so we walked as far down the mall as far as we could until security turned us around. The entire wing leading to Macy's (Butch Hoffer, the old Linens-n-Things, the game room, etc.) had about an inch of water on the floor! Many stores on that end of the mall had closed to customers but retailers on the other end of the mall (JCP, Sears, etc.) were still open for business with the exception of Bealls.
We returned to JCP and that's when were heard that cars were on top of cars in the Walmart parking lot and that the roof of Kohl's had sustained major damage and trapped people in dressing rooms.

I'm praising the Lord tonight that we are all safe and the God protected us from the traumatic events of today. My prayers are with the people who did have to experience the force of nature today and I pray that they find comfort in HIM tonight.

[Flyinman]

Go to http://www.beaumontenterprise.com.

There are photos and video of the event.

Just so people do not think we are nuts, I want to clarify that this is a rarity for the city. Normally we only see tornadoes associated with a Tropical event (mainly hurricane). The last tornado I remember hitting Beaumont was in the 80's and that did minimal damage as it mainly crossed pasture areas.

[CajunMama]

I'm glad that our members are ok. Y'all were extremely lucky that no one was seriously hurt or killed.

[weatherguy425]

southerngale- thankyou! and I was trying to downgrade the situation my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that was affected. Unfortunetly I think these types of short lived non-supercell tornados are very hard to recognize and issue a warning on.

[southerngale]

Yeah, Flyinman. They're pretty rare, particularly one that causes this much damage. I don't know about actually inside the city limits of Beaumont, but there have been other tornadoes recently. A few years ago, one tore some houses to shreds in China. Several years ago, while living just a few miles outside of the city limits, an F0 (I believe they said the winds were 100mph) did a good bit of damage along and near Keith Road (between Beaumont and Lumberton). Maybe more, but those 2 came to mind quickly. The one on Keith Road was right around the corner from my house. I was actually outside filming the storm on the porch when it hit. We lost power for a couple of days, iirc. There's a thread about it here somewhere!

Diva... I'm praising the Lord too. Looking at the damage, it's truly a miracle that nobody was killed or seriously injured.

Greg Bostwick showed the radar from the time of the tornado. Nothing on their radar, NWS Lake Charles radar, or NWS Houston radar showed the tornado. It happened so fast and just happened to hit a very populated area.

Anyway, here's some more pics from KFDM:

http://www.kfdm.com/sections/slideshow/?id=608982


Video: Reaction from Kohl's Customers

Video: How bad was the damage? (Walmart)

Walmart is closed until further notice.

[southerngale]

southerngale- thankyou! and I was trying to downgrade the situation my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that was affected. Unfortunetly I think these types of short lived non-supercell tornados are very hard to recognize and issue a warning on.

I wasn't really complaining about it, but more pointing out how nobody had any warning. Even when out shopping, some people get warned via cell phone, weather alerts, etc.

I posted in my message above, Greg Bostwick from KFDM showed the radar from the time of the tornado. Nothing on their radar, NWS Lake Charles radar, or NWS Houston radar showed the tornado. It happened so fast and just happened to hit a very populated area. Wow.

[weatherguy425]

It's amazing that nobody was seriously injured or killed!

[brunota2003]

If it all happened in less than 5 minutes, then it is very likely it developed, did the damage, and then dissipated between volume scans, leaving absolutely no trace, no matter how hard you look (updates take about 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the mode they are in...Clear Air Mode is a lot longer than Precipitation Mode).

[vbhoutex]

Greg Bostwick showed the radar from the time of the tornado. Nothing on their radar, NWS Lake Charles radar, or NWS Houston radar showed the tornado. It happened so fast and just happened to hit a very populated area.

On Channel 13 here in Houston they analyzed the winds on their radar at the time of the event and it barely showed up. But they did show inbound and out bound rain(ie wind in opposite directions) at the time of the event at that location. But to say it showed up on radar-I don't think anyone did see that as you said. It is amazing no one was seriously injured.