New Orleans Assesses Tornado Destruction

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    The Facts

    • Several tornadoes ripped through the New Orleans area Tues. night. St. Bernard Parish took the brunt of the damage where one life was claimed and several others sustained injuries.

    • Many of those impacted are also recovering from 2021's Hurricane Ida.


    The Spin

    Narrative A

    It's rare to see a tornado strike near New Orleans, and there could be a climate connection. Some scientists believe that changing atmospheric conditions are fueling tornado outbreaks in the deep South.

    Narrative B

    It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.

    Narrative C

    This is a "human-built environment" problem. Vulnerable southern communities typically live in more weak-framed houses compared to the central US. As the New Orleans tornado showed, it's vital for impoverished residents to have sturdy, resilient housing.


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