Tornado Strikes Basile Butcher Shop, Injures Three Employees

BASILE, La. — Three employees were hospitalized after a tornado struck Rhea’s Specialty Meat & Smokehouse in Basile early Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service confirmed that an EF1 tornado, packing winds up to 95 mph and stretching 150 yards wide, touched down near Log Cabin Road in Acadia Parish.

The twister crossed U.S. 190, making its way through Evangeline Parish before dissipating in nearby woods.

Melba Hebert, an employee at the smokehouse, was an hour into her shift when the chaos began. “It was a normal day,” Hebert recalled. “The sun was shining, then we heard a noise like something hitting the roof. Someone yelled, ‘Tornado!’”

As she and her coworkers tried to escape, they were pulled back by the tornado’s pressure. “It threw us to the floor, and then the roof came down on us,” she said, describing a scene of sudden destruction.

Nearby campers also sustained damage in the storm’s path, highlighting the widespread impact. Despite the turmoil, the small town of Basile showed remarkable resilience and community spirit.

Just minutes after the storm, residents and neighbors gathered to assist in the cleanup effort. “This town is something else,” said Jude Burton, owner of Rhea’s Specialty Meats. “The parking lot and road were full—not with responders, but with people here to help.”

The heartfelt community response made a difference, and for Hebert, it reaffirmed the town’s strong sense of solidarity. “This is the best town you can get,” she said proudly. “Everyone came out to help.”

As the community begins the recovery process, officials remind residents of the unpredictable nature of severe weather and the importance of staying prepared.

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