Tornado Rips Through Area West of La Grange

A tornado caused extensive damage on the west side of La Grange this morning, May 3.

Reports about a twister in the Freyburg and O'Quinn area began shortly begore 9 a.m. The storm moved in a line roughly north-northeast toward Plum. Around 9:15 a.m. the tornado touched down at McCourt and Sons Equipment on State Highway 71 about 2.5 miles west of the bypass in La Grange. The twister destroyed one building and tossed vehicles on their side in the parking lot. Amazingly, no one was injured.

The future home of La Grange First Baptist Church, located across the highway from McCourt and Sons, also sustained damage. The nearby Ace Contractor Supply sustained damage as well. Farther to the north, the twister destroyed the historic Zion Baptist Church on Egypt Road and damaged houses and other buildings in the Plum area.

Fayette County EMS Director Sharon Muzny said her department checked all homes and buildings along the storm's path. She said they found no one injured and have recieved no reports of people missing.

La Grange ISD was under a shelter in place this morning due to the weather. "Staff and students did an exceptional job in following directions for safety precautions," the school said in a message sent to parents.