Tornado causes damage in West Beaumont

  BEAUMONT - Wednesday morning update - It's a day of repair and recovery in west Beaumont, one day after a tornado caused damage but no deaths. A spokeswoman at the Wal-Mart store in Beaumont told KFDM News the store is closed today but she expects the store to reopen at 7 a.m. Thursday after workers clean up damage from Tuesday's tornado.  Kohl's is also closed. KFDM is checking with Kohl's to find out more about the status of the store.  A spokeswoman for Parkdale Mall told KFDM News they'll be meeting this morning to assess damage.  She said most of the stores, including the department stores, will be open.  Several stores in a nearby retail center received damage but are open Wednesday.  They include Barnes and Noble, Office Depot and PETCO.  Barnes and Noble received minor damage to the outside and left side of the roof.  The tornado knocked over some rooftop air conditioning units at Office Depot, which led to a gas leak. They're working on repairs. The tornado caused minor damage to the roof at Petco and knocked out ceiling tiles.  There was also minor damage to the doors. 

Jacqueline Conger, spokeswoman for Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, told KFDM News fewer than ten people were brought in with minor cuts and bruises Tuesday.  She said all of the patients have been treated and released.

 The Wal-Mart spokeswoman told us they want to reopen to serve customers and get ready for the tax free weekend.

 "They are working as quickly as possible to get the store reopened," Anna Taylor, Wal-Mart spokeswoman, told KFDM News. "They're shooting for first thing tomorrow morning, seven a.m., if everything goes as planned.  They're excited about the tax free weekend and they'll be ready for back to school shoppers.{

Stay with KFDM News for the latest on the tornado's impact and the clean up work taking place in the retail district on Dowlen Road near Parkdale Mall.

Tuesday's tornado was a rare event for Southeast Texans. Watch all of the videos from our coverage by clicking on this article. You can also look at our photo slideshow from the damage by clicking here.

Late Tuesday night the National Weather Service in Lake Charles said the tornado was a high end EFI on a scale of 0-5.  The winds were about 100 to 110 miles per hour.  The twister was about 100 yards wide and affected an area about one mile long. 

The twister hit several locations on Dowlen Road.

The buildings most heavily damaged included Kohl's Department Store and Wal-Mart, as well as some parts of the mall.

Beaumont police say one man suffered cardiac arrest after the tornado touched down.

His condition is unknown.

According to Beaumont Police and Christus St. Elizabeth spokesperson Jacqueline Conger, the hospital admitted fewer than ten people with cuts and bruises.  All of the victims are in stable condition.

Greg Bostwick and the KFDM Weather Team, along with video and photo proof from several KFDM viewers in the West End confirm that a tornado did actually touchdown in Southeast Texas.

Below is a recap of the day's events as KFDM's News team reported it.

Release from the Beaumont Police Department:

• This afternoon at 1:58 p.m., a confirmed tornado struck the Parkdale Mall area of Beaumont. A witness videoed the tornado as it traveled West to East. The tornado struck the retail business area along Dowlen Road, between Eastex Freeway and Old Dowlen Road.
• Kohl's Department store sustained significant damage to the roof. The tornado caused many cars to overturn in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Many vehicles were damaged due to flying debris. Several injuries were reported due to flying debris but none appear to be life-threatening.
• The tornado also damaged the Barnes and Nobles/Petco shopping strips well as several businesses at Parkdale Mall. (6155 Eastex Freeway)
• Emergency Management Officials are asking that citizens avoid this area of the city in an effort to make passage of Emergency Vehicles more accessible. There will be certain area's that will be denied access until the debris is cleaned away and services restored. Teams are out at this time assessing damage of the area.
• Entergy (electricity provider) is on scene clearing and repairing lines. Centerpoint Energy (natural gas provider) is also in the area checking several minor gas leaks.

Here's the latest report on the area around the damage:

• (Update 4:04PM) - Part of Dowlen Road are still blocked so emergency crews can continue tending to the scene.

KFDM is receiving updates and reports from several sources and reporters. We're going to add it all to the website. 

• (Update 3:45PM)  Jacqueline Conger tells KFDM News fewer than 10 people were admitted to Christus St. Elizabeth with cuts and bruises. No serious injuries.

Original Report - The Beaumont Fire Department is responding to a report of several injuries at Kohl's Department Store on Dowlen Road.

Officer Crystal Holmes with Beaumont Police said a possible tornado touched down at Kohl's, jumped over to Wal-Mart, and continued to Parkdale Mall.

The primary damage at the scene, as reported by Ashley Rodrigue was to the roof at Kohl's Department store.

Rodrigue also reported large pieces of debris in the parking lot. She reports that there's one vehicle on top of another vehicle in the parking lot across the street at Wal-Mart.

A dispatcher first told KFDM News after 2:00p.m. there was a report of some type of weather-related damage to the building.

Police are shutting down Dowlen Road and wanting people to stay away from the area.

Stay with KFDM News for details.