HomeLocal NewsPhoto Gallery: Tornado damage in Laguna Heights
The roof is torn off a home surrounded by debris following a tornado touching down Saturday, May 13, 2023, on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
Laguna Heights is the site of the Rio Grande Valley’s first tornado-related death in years, going back to the 20th century, after it ripped through the area with 85-106 mile per hour winds early Saturday morning.
The twister was only fully formed for five minutes, between 4:01 and 4:06 a.m. but also caused significant damages to the Laguna Heights community and surrounding areas, as well as leaving another 11 people with non-life threatening injuries.
Here’s a look at some of the damages. Read the full story here.
Crews repair downed power lines along State Highway 100 Saturday, May 13, 2023, after an EF1 tornado touches down in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Downed power lines dangle along the side of State Highway 100 Saturday, May 13, 2023, after a tornado touches down in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle drives past a home damaged by a tornado Saturday, May 13, 2023, near Harding Boulevard in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)The roof is torn off a home surrounded by debris following a tornado touching down Saturday, May 13, 2023, on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Apartment owner Juan Gomez sweeps debris out of the parking lot so his tenants can return to claim their belongings Saturday, May 13, 2023, after a tornado touches down on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A home was separated from its porch by high winds and pushed into a neighbor’s fence Saturday, May 13, 2023, after a tornado touches down on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Broken glass and other debris hang from the back of an apartment complex after a tornado removed its roof Saturday, May 13, 2023, on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Apartment owner Juan Gomez holds up a power line insulator blown onto his property which he jokes is a souvenir of being hit by a tornado Saturday, May 13, 2023, in on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A cat named Penny, walks back to her owner after disappearing following a tornado touching down Saturday, May 13, 2023, on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Neighbors clear brush and other debris from their homes into a communal pile following a tornado touching down Saturday, May 13, 2023, on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Power lines are down on East Ocean Boulevard and Adams in Laguna Heights after a storm struck early Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A home sustained storm damage in Laguna Heights early Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Laguna Heights suffered extensive damages after a tornado struck the area early Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)This home on Van Buren Street in Laguna Heights was pushed back from its front porch and into the fence of apartments located in the area after a tornado struck the area early Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Apartments in the vicinity of Van Buren Street and Jackson in Laguna Heights sustained tornado damage early Saturday, May 13, 2023. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
