Lightning — St. Landry, Louisiana

1998-04-18 · near Plaisance, St. Landry, Louisiana

Wider weather episode

Around one hundred people were inside a tent at the Louisiana International Goat Festival when lightning struck the center pole of the tent. Twenty people were thrown to the ground by the shock. Two people, a woman and a girl, were taken by ambulance to the local hospital, while the remaining were treated at the scene. Many people complained about blisters, swollen arms and legs, and numbness. One goat was killed.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5643637. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.