On Tuesday, November 5, at approximately 8 a.m., an F1 tornado tore through the meat preparation room of Rhea’s Specialty Meats and Smokehouse, located on the north side of Highway 190 just west of Basile’s town limits. The tornado left significant structural damage, injuring several employees and sending the community into shock.
Sara Manuel, a resident living next door to the business, witnessed the tornado’s approach from her window. According to Manuel, she first spotted the funnel cloud forming south of Highway 190 in Acadia Parish. She watched as it moved north, ripping through a camper near the home of Vernon Ledet on Log Cabin Road, before crossing the highway and hitting the east side of Rhea’s Specialty Meats. The meat preparation room, made of cinder block and cement, took a direct hit, collapsing under the force of the winds.
Inside the meat room, ten employees were working when the tornado struck, sending cinder blocks, beams, and glass crashing down upon them. Brenda McClelland, one of the employees, reported that most suffered minor cuts and abrasions, though three workers required transportation to a nearby hospital. One employee sustained shoulder and ankle injuries, while two others suffered head injuries.
Melba Hebert, another employee in the meat room, described the terrifying moments following the impact. “We were buried beneath the debris,” she said, explaining that it was thanks to first responders and local residents that they were eventually dug out from the wreckage. Hebert recalled that employees often considered the meat room the strongest part of the building, and some had even thought about heading to the refrigerated meat cooler, the safest place on-site. “But there was no time,” she added. “We tried to run, but the winds pulled us back into the building.”
While the meat preparation room was severely damaged, the wooden parts of the building, including the customer service area, restrooms, and dining area, were left standing. Before leaving the area, the twister took down trees along West Stagg Avenue, blocking the street that leads out of town and to the Bayou Nezpique.
Rhea’s Specialty Meats, a long-standing fixture in the community, was originally built as Manuel’s Slaughter House in 1962 by Marion Manuel. It has operated as Rhea’s Specialty Meats for over a decade under the ownership of Jude Burton, Jr., who recently served as King of the Louisiana Swine Festival. Just days before the tornado, Rhea’s had welcomed festival queens for a tour, and KLFY-TV in Lafayette featured Burton in a special segment showcasing his boudin-making techniques.
As the community rallies around the employees and the business, questions remain about the road to recovery for Rhea’s. The business has been an integral part of Basile’s culinary landscape, and residents hope for a swift rebuilding of the meat room so that it can continue serving the region.
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.