If there was ever a doubt in your mind, New Orleans is a city of strength and resilience.

This past Tuesday, a strong and powerful tornado swept through New Orleans East neighborhood, injuring several dozen people and causing damage to a great deal of cars and homes in its path.

According to CNN, Governor John Bel Edwards said that seven confirmed tornadoes were recorded in at least six different parishes, leaving thousands without power. The worst damage was in 9th Ward, the same area that dealt with heavy flooding in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. However, Gov. Edwards was thankful to report that not a single fatality had been reported or confirmed at the time although he was heartbroken to see some of the same people suffering yet again.

Photo: CNN

A National Weather Service survey documented that the tornado that hit New Orleans and nearby parishes was an EF-3, carrying winds of 135 to 140 mph. The first of it’s kind to hit the area.

Mayor Landrieu said although the tornado only traveled approximately 2 miles, it destroyed everything some people had. “It’s like an elephant stomping on your house and it is really devastating,” Landrieu said. However, he affirmed on Twitter that no matter what, they will rebuild because the people of New Orleans are resilient and tough.

Just east of New Orleans, the storm struck NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility where NASA is building its next deep space rocket. According to AL, It has been reported that the storm caused significant damage to the facility but fewer than 10 people reported minor injuries. Michoud is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. and reassured the public that Building 103 where SLS is being manufactured had roof damage but the rocket and it’s hardware remains intact. Some employees were able to get wicked footage of the tornado traveling nearby.

New Orleans Mayor Landrieu announced that he has not spoken directly with President Trump about getting federal disaster declaration for New Orleans but Trump’s office did call the day the tornado hit, according to Yahoo News. Landrieu confirmed that the damage is severe enough for a federal disaster declaration being that about 300 building were destroyed and 640 were seriously damaged. 10,400 Entergy customers lost power but it has been restored to about 6,700 customers. Could be days before everyone has power again.

The city has opened a temporary shelter at Joe. W Brown Recreation Center (5601 Read Blvd) where the health department, fire department, catholic charities and the Red Cross are offering help and assessing needs for those in need of short-term and long-term housing. 

Here’s a full list of organization and locations that are seeking volunteers and are collecting donations.

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