Sunday, March 6, 2011

Louisiana town cleans up after deadly tornado

(CNN) -- Utility companies will return Sunday to restore power in parts of Rayne, Louisiana, after a tornado pummeled the region, killing at least one person.

A Louisiana mother who died sheltering her child during the tornado was identified early Sunday as Jalisa Granger, a sheriff's office official said.

The 21-year-old's body was found by "a family member who lived nearby" who went to check on her, said Maxine Trahan, a spokeswoman for the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office in Rayne, Louisiana, adding that the "child was OK."

Trahan was killed when a tree fell on her house in the storm.

Eleven people were injured, she said.

"There's a lot of damage out there," Trahan said. "Most residents were evacuated, leaving for other relatives' homes. About 20 (who were) evacuated didn't have somewhere to go, but were taken to the local fire department."

Utility companies will be returning to the area Sunday morning to help restore power, she said.

The storm that killed Granger was one of at least two twisters tied to a weather system that has caused major damage in the state and wreaked havoc on Mardi Gras festivities.

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