11:48 AM CST on Friday, February 3, 2006

WWLTV.com

High winds from an overnight storm and at least two tornados ripped up trees, collapsed several houses, knocked out power for nearly 30,000 people in Kenner, Metairie and Lakeview early Thursday.

According to Officer Juan Barnes, a New Orleans Police spokesman, several streets were closed between Fleur de Lis Drive and Pontchartrain Boulevard because the tower at the old Troop B headquarters had been knocked down. The 700 block of Robert E. Lee was closed due to downed trees and wind debris forced the closure of the 6800 block of Canal Boulevard.

Barnes said houses collapsed at the following locations: Germain Street and West End, Filmore Avenue and Canal Boulevard, the 700 block of Crystal Street, the 6800 block of Canal Boulevard and the 300 block of Harrison Avenue.

"Don't ever ask the question, `what else could happen?"' said Marcia Paul Leone, a mortgage banker who was surveying the new damage to her Katrina-flooded home.

In Kenner, Armstrong International Airport lost power and the storm forced the closure of one of its concourses, according to airport spokesperson Michelle Duffourc. There were no reports of any injuries.

A piece of an extendable jetway used to board passengers was torn off and slammed into another jetway. Motorized runway luggage carts were overturned and several windows were blown out.

"There's more damage to the terminal than I saw during the hurricane," Duffourc said.

Preparations were under way to move airline operations from the damaged concourse to other areas.

Another possible tornado touched down in the 2200 block of Williams Boulevard near the District Fire Station, according to Kenner authorities. Warehouses in the 700 block of Airline across from the airport were also reportedly damaged.

In Jefferson Parish, Entergy said 30,000 people in Kenner and Metairie were without power.

Some schools in the Metro area were forced to close because of the power outages and storm damage; among them: Mt. Carmel Academy in Lakeview, St. Mary Magdalen School in Metairie and St. Mary's Elementary in Raceland.

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Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.