NWS says storm was EF-2 tornado

Following a review and survey of the area meterologists from the National Weather Service in Lake Charles have concluded that the tornado that hit the southwest side of Jasper on Monday was a category EF2, meaning winds topped out at somewhere between 111 and 135 miles per hour. Additional information has also reportedly revealed that radar at Fort Polk saw debris being carried as high as 20,000 feet as the storm passed over town sucking everything up like a big vacuum cleaner. A local resident is also reporting that he learned Tuesday that debris picked up by the storm was found as far as 5 miles away. Many are saying that it is lucky that no one died as a result of the damage that downed homes and also trees and power lines. Work is now underway as local residents along with workers from numerous power and communications providers and their contractors clear the trees, set poles and restring lines. Across the area on Tuesday there were saws and hammers to be heard everywhere along with heavy equipment.