Tornadoes in US: Death toll rises to 28 as states scramble for help
A devastating series of storms have left at least 28 people dead, leaving behind destruction and misery in the American South and Midwest. The BBC.
As a result, thousands of people lost power, their homes were destroyed.
The Washington Post More than 60 tornado reports were recorded.
Affected states include Mississippi, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Alabama and Tennessee as each state counts deaths due to worsening weather conditions.
The Little Rock tornado first damaged homes in the western part of the city, including a small grocery store, leaving destruction behind as it moved toward North Little Rock and adjacent towns.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center in Little Rock said they are expecting at least 15 to 20 patients from the storm, while several have already been brought to the center.
Ashley McMillan said: “Their house was badly damaged by a tree falling, but they were safe.”
He also added: “We could feel the house shaking, we could hear loud voices, the clinking of dishes. And then it went completely quiet.”
Lisa Worden, a teacher at Vine School, said Reuters: “We got out at 1:30, which was a godsend from our superintendent because otherwise the kids would be on the buses and the teachers would be here. And so it would have been even more devastating.”
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency in the state on Friday, with the National Guard moving in to provide aid to those affected by the storm.
He noted that he has spoken with President Joe Biden, who pledged federal support.
Thousands of people were also without power in Illinois and Arkansas.
Additional power outages were reported in Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Indiana and Texas.
The National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center issued a forecast and warned of unprecedented storms and damage expected to be especially common in the southern states of the United States.
A week earlier, a tornado killed at least 21 people in Rolling Fork Mississippi.
Following the devastation of the Rolling Fork tornado, President Biden visited the affected city and pledged government support for recovery.
With more severe weather forecast, South Dakota Governor Christie ordered the closure of offices in parts of the state.
In the same region, weather experts have predicted a strong storm of similar magnitude next Tuesday and said that at least the early days of April will be severe.