Authorities say at least 12 people were injured and one person killed by an EF2 tornado that struck the small south Louisiana town of Rayne on Saturday, March 5, 2011. The tornado brought winds reaching 135 mph and had sprung from a vast storm system kicking up abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.

More than 150 homes were damaged in Saturday's tornado, many of them destroyed, authorities said, and about 1,500 people were evacuated because of natural gas leaks. Now the task of cleaning up lies ahead in Rayne, where sheet metal roofing clung to trees, chunks of homes were ripped and tossed about, and downed tree limbs smashed cars.

View photos of the destruction by clicking the "Next" button below.

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011

Damage from Saturday's tornado that killed one and injured several others is seen in Rayne, La., Sunday, March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
An overturned vehicle lies next to damaged trailer in Rayne, La., Sunday, March 6, 2011. Officials worked on Sunday to get people back into their homes after the tornado ripped through this southwestern Louisiana town, killing a mother shielding her child from the fierce winds and leaving 12 injured. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
More damage from Saturday's suspected tornado that killed one and injured several others is seen in Rayne, La., Sunday, March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
The destroyed home of Jalisa Granger, who was killed while sheltering her child during Saturday's suspected tornado, is seen in Rayne, La., Sunday, March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
More damage from Saturday's tornado that killed one and injured several others is seen in Rayne, La., Sunday, March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
A cat sits on debris of a destroyed home of Jalisa Granger, who was killed while sheltering her child during Saturday's suspected tornado, in Rayne, La., Sunday, March 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
More tornado damage is seen Saturday, March 5, 2011 in Rayne, La. (AP Photo/The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, P.C. Piazza)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
Tornado damage brought down trees onto many cars in Rayne, La. (AP Photo/The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, P.C. Piazza)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
Residents look at damage from a tornado that injured at least 12 people, leveling homes and causing natural gas leaks that prompted evacuations in Rayne, La., on Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP Photo/The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, P.C. Piazza)

Louisiana Tornado Damage, March 5, 2011
A U.S. Postal truck lies on its side in the yard of a home in Rayne, La., after a tornado hit the area on Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP Photo/The Lafayette Daily Advertiser, P.C. Piazza)

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