NEW STORM DAMAGE VIDEO: Hope Baptist School in Alexandria significantly damaged

Posted: Dec 16, 2019 / 05:53 PM CST / Updated: Dec 16, 2019 / 06:19 PM CST

ALEXANDRIA, La. (NBC NEWS) (12/16/2019) — Strong storms blew through Louisiana, and Alexandria was one of the spots hardest hit.

The Hope Baptist School in Rapides Parish was heavily damaged. Reports say everyone was able to safely take shelter.

Kids were evacuated to a nearby church building after the storms passed.

Here’s a time lapse of the tornado producing storm near Cravens LA late this morning. This was the tornado that caused the fatality in Vernon Parish, and did extensive damage in Alexandria and Pineville. You can briefly see what I suspect is the tornado as it wraps in the rain. pic.twitter.com/feasUiYcPz
— Nick Mikulas (@MikulasNick) December 16, 2019

Tornado in Alexandria, LA earlier. A school/preschool was destroyed with the kids taking shelter in the adjoining church. The church had part of its roof taken off. pic.twitter.com/a0bD2MWzG7
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) December 16, 2019

#WATCH: Brooke Buford surveys storm damage off John Allison Dr. in Alexandria at Techline Inc. https://t.co/UdjuM15zcU
— KALB News Channel 5 (@KALBtv5) December 16, 2019

Aerial view of Alexandria , LA of the school/daycare (Hope Baptist) and nearby homes destroyed I’m@JimCantore pic.twitter.com/teeSr8VtoY
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) December 16, 2019

Re-posting for latest data…damaging tornado courtesy of Tommy & Heather Welch shot in Vernon P. Storm was tracked for 63 miles & on ground for better part of an hour all the way to Alexandria. Doppler velocity maxed at 141mph well into EF2 range-NWS survey results pending.#LAwx pic.twitter.com/VBNzCwz3BZ
— Rob Perillo (@robperillo) December 16, 2019

Not Good… Extensive damage after a very Large Tornado moved through the Alexandria, LA area!

Permission: Joanna. Clark @WeatherBug – #MSwx #ALwx #LAwx #Severe #Louisiana pic.twitter.com/8jbNNOI1LA
— Live Storm Chasers (@Livestormchaser) December 16, 2019

Tornado watching from our hotel window. 12/16/19 Alexandria, LA pic.twitter.com/8Emqwju3uI
— Becky Fejarang (@Bfejarang) December 16, 2019

It's like out of a movie. People walking looking for friends and family. Pray for the people effected by this unbelievable damage from the tornado in Alexandria, LA. @breakingweather @kalbnews5 pic.twitter.com/rhjcOdI1fD
— Becky Fejarang (@Bfejarang) December 16, 2019