Strong Storm Damages Businesses in Louisiana Town

The owner of a jewelry store in Jennings, La., says he hopes to reopen in time to deal with Christmas layaways even though winds ripped off part of the roof.

Phil Cureton’s store, Jennings Fine Jewelry, was among several damaged when winds from a line of thunderstorms tore a mall roof about 6:30 a.m. Thursday.

He tells The American Press that his store lost about two-thirds of its roof. He says most merchandise was stored elsewhere overnight, and inventory is low because the store is going out of business after 23 years.

But he says he’s holding a lot of Christmas layaway merchandise, so he needs to reopen.

National Weather Service meteorologist Roger Erickson said the damage apparently was caused by straight-line winds estimated at 50 to 70 mph.