Ruston is mourning the loss of a mother and teenage son and contemplating months of rebuilding after a killer tornado ripped through the city and Louisiana Tech University campus early Thursday morning.

Kendra Butler, 35, who was earning her master's degree at Grambling State University, and her son Remington Butler, 14, a Ruston High School freshman, were killed when a tree crashed through their house.

"We all need to pray for that family and the entire community as Ruston rebuilds," Gov. John Bel Edwards said in an interview with USA Today Network after assessing the damage from the air and the ground Wednesday afternoon.

"The damage is extensive and catastrophic," he said.

The National Weather Service confirmed the Ruston tornado as "at least" an EF3 with deadly winds as high as 165 mph.

"It's bad, real bad," Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker said. "We took a direct hit."

Much of the damage occurred along Tech Drive and Cypress Springs subdivision south of Interstate 20, but Walker said there was damage throughout the city.

LA Tech President Les Guice said there was extensive damage to the universities' baseball and softball fields, but the academic structures remained intact with mostly minor damage.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said the fatalities occurred in a house near the Pizza Hut restaurant just off of Interstate 20.

"I've never seen it this bad in my 43 years," Lincoln Parish Sheriff Mike Stone said. "It's tragic, and it's going to be a while before we can get all this cleaned up."

Classes were canceled at Tech on Thursday and Friday.

Lincoln Parish schools in Ruston will also be closed Friday.

"We're still assessing the damage," said Guice, who said the tornado came through Ruston about 2:30 a.m.

LA Tech Tornado Damage

Guice said he and his wife Kathy were awakened by tornado sirens and heard the tornado. The president's home in on campus next to Aillet Stadium.

"There was a strong roar and we heard trees snapping," Guice said.

Guice said some cars were picked up by the tornado and moved about 50 yards.

Walker said the city has suffered "a tremendous amount of electrical grid issues" and some areas of the city could remain without power into the weekend.

Other damage to homes and businesses "will take months to recover," Walker said.

State Police Col. Kevin Reeves said he has dispatched extra units and troopers to Ruston to assist, as did law enforcement from other cities and parishes as well as the Louisiana National Guard.

Fifth District U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham, R-Alto, has toured the damaged and contacted the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the White House.

"They got hit hard and I will help in any way that I can," said Abraham, who also tweeted his prayers for the victims and community.

According to the National Weather Service, warnings began being issued in St. Augustine, Texas, around 11 p.m. and warnings continued until about 3 a.m. as the storm system traveled across eastern Texas and northeastern Louisiana.

The storm traveled through Lincoln, Bienville and Red River parishes making its way through Pleasant Hill and heading northeast.

Come back for more on this developing story.