Slidell leaders work to recover after EF-1 tornado hit the area. Thousands are without power. Officials offer safety tips following the storm. A tornado that the National Weather Service categorizes as "at least an EF-1," slammed into the southern part of Slidell causing extensive damage and multiple injuries and knocking out power to 26,000 customers Wednesday. An apartment complex in South Slidell near Old Spanish Trail and City Drive was extremely heavily damaged, leaving approximately 50 people without a place to live. A nearby school had its roof completely shorn off, though the school was closed for the day due to the severe weather threat.