A powerful storm system tore through the central and southern United States, leaving destruction in its wake and killing at least 32 people.
The storm, which produced violent tornadoes, raging wildfires, and blinding dust storms, decimated homes, toppled vehicles, and left entire communities reeling from the devastation.
Why It Matters
The massive storm system impacted millions of Americans, bringing a mix of extreme weather events across multiple states. From deadly tornadoes in Missouri to catastrophic wildfires in Oklahoma, the system demonstrated the unpredictable and devastating force of spring storms.
What To Know
Missouri was among the hardest-hit states, with twisters killing at least a dozen people. In Wayne County, Missouri, resident Dakota Henderson described the devastation after finding multiple bodies outside his aunt’s demolished home. “It’s really disturbing for what happened to the people, the casualties last night,” Henderson said.
In neighboring Butler County, Coroner Jim Akers detailed the destruction, calling one home an “unrecognizable debris field.” He added: “The floor was upside down. We were walking on walls.”
The storm’s reach extended beyond Missouri. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed six deaths and reported that three people were still missing late Saturday as the storm continued its deadly march into Alabama. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency after confirming three deaths in her state as well.
Meanwhile, Georgia braced for impact as the storm moved east. Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency, while the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency issued tornado watches for parts of the state. “We will continue to work closely with state and local officials to respond to damage and assess any needs following this weather event,” Kemp said on social media.
Dust storms driven by high winds also caused significant destruction. In Kansas, eight people died in a 50-vehicle pileup, authorities said. In Texas, three fatalities were reported after a dust storm led to dangerous driving conditions in Amarillo.
More than 130 wildfires in Oklahoma prompted evacuations in multiple communities. Governor Kevin Stitt said the fires had burned nearly 266 square miles and damaging nearly 300 homes. Among those impacted was Stitt himself, who said that he lost a home on a ranch northeast of Oklahoma City.
What People Are Saying
Bailey Dillon, who watched from her porch in Tylertown, Mississippi, as a massive tornado struck a nearby RV park said: “The amount of damage was catastrophic. It was a large amount of cabins, RVs, campers that were just flipped over. Everything was destroyed … Homes and everything were destroyed all around it. Schools and buildings are just completely gone.”
What Happens Next
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that severe thunderstorms could bring “damaging winds and a few tornadoes through Sunday across a broad portion of the mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S.”
This article contains reporting from The Associated Press.
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