SVN rescues 2 dogs trapped under rubble nearly a week after deadly Keithville tornado

Published: Dec. 19, 2022 at 3:34 PM CST
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CADDO PARISH, La. (KSLA) - The Shreveport Volunteer Network is still working to help those affected by a tornado that touched down in Keithville on Dec. 13.

Over the weekend, SVN founder Keith Bryant said more than 150 volunteers worked to clean up the area. While volunteers continued their work Monday, they rescued two dogs that had been trapped under rubble since Tuesday night’s storms.

The deadly EF-2 tornado left a mother and son dead. Yoshiko Smith, 30, and her 8-year-old son, Nikolus Little, lost their lives.

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After declaring a state of emergency for all areas affected by the storm, Gov. John Bel Edwards visited Keithville to tour the damage.

The aftermath of the damage in Keithville.
Shreveport Volunteer Network clears out debris, helps families in Keithville

Many people’s lives have been devastated and homes were lost after a tornado hit the Four Forks area on Dec. 13. So, on Dec. 17, SVN came to help people put their lives back together, the organization brought chainsaws and other heavy equipment.

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Community coming together for Keithville

After the catastrophic EF-2 tornado that passed through Keithville on Tuesday, Dec. 13, the community has come together to help those displaced by the storm.

People coming together to help and feed Keithville residents.

Debris lines each side of Pecan Road in Keithville almost a week after tornadoes swept through the area. The storm trapped two dogs under rubble, but thankfully, the Shreveport Volunteer Network found both canines Monday.

Bryant says with the help of hundreds of volunteers, they are making progress.

“We’ve done everything to help pick up passports and pictures, to help people that have lost everything that they worked their whole lives for. That’s the hardest part of our job: putting something that people have worked their entire life for in the ditch,” he said. “We had 21 pieces of machinery out here on Saturday and probably 150 volunteers helping to clean up.”

Volunteer, Eric George, says as a new business owner, he wanted to help give back to those who lost everything.