A line of storms moving through Louisiana on Monday knocked out power to the New Orleans International Airport, sent freight train cars tumbling from an elevated bridge and left nearly 238,000 customers without electricity.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from the storms, but the power outages, together with flood damage, prompted Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to declare a state of emergency.
In New Orleans, the storms left the criminal courthouse without power, downed trees and power lines and caused several area schools, including the University of New Orleans, to cancel classes.
