A violent and productive tornado storm system swept Friday in the center of the United States, leaving at least 16 dead people and causing generalized destruction in Missouri and southeast Kentucky.
Nine of the deaths occurred in Laurel County, Kentucky, where an alleged tornado hit Friday night.
According to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office of Laurel County, the area experienced extensive damage, including fallen trees, damaged vehicles and neighborhoods covered with debris.
The Laurel County Tax Court published on Facebook: “Multiple deaths have been confirmed as a result of a tornado that hit Laurel County on Friday night.
“Destroyed houses and buildings are still being sought by emergency responders. Multiple serious injuries have also been reported.”
The mayor of London, Randall Weddle, expressed his shock at the destruction scale:
“I have never personally witnessed what I have witnessed here tonight. There is a lot of devastation,” A CNN affiliate told Wkyt.
The National Meteorological Service confirmed a “large and extremely dangerous” tornado indicated in radar that moves east through the low Kentucky shortly after midnight. The videos and photos of Laurel and Pulasski counties showed deleted houses, destroyed cars and torn landscapes.
The Somerset Fire Department, located in Pulasski County, published around 11 pm on Friday: “The southern side of the city has been beaten by a possible tornado! Avoid the area, posts and electric lines are low!”
Pulasski County Judge Executive Marshall Todd declared an emergency state, and cleaning efforts are being made.
In the nearby Corbin, the police responded to the calls of mutual aid, describing the consequences as “overwhelming.” They urged the public to: “Stop and pray for the residents of Laurel County and the victims of the tornado that landed there.”
In Missouri, at least seven people died when the tornadoes crossed the state. Five deaths were confirmed in the St. Louis area, where emergency responders described catastrophic structural damage.
The mayor of St. Louis, Cara Spencer, reported: “This is really a lot of damage,” added that “several buildings have collapsed and many ceilings are missing.”
Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson said: “Basically all the windows” in the city's fire house, “exploded”, and around 20 square blocks were significantly damaged.
“This will be a very exhausting and extensive search pattern at this time.”
Approximately 500 to respond are combing through debris for survivors. Spencer emphasized the urgency of rescue efforts: in “our priority is life and saving lives and keeping people safe tonight.”
Due to the limited cell service, residents were urged to minimize the use of the phone. The authorities also imposed a curfew of 9 pm to 6 am in two police districts and are working to declare an emergency state throughout the city.
According to reports, some tornado sirens were not activated during the event. Sarah Russell, commissioner of the city's emergency management agency, said: “The approach is now in the measures that save life in the community.”
To the southern St. Louis in Scott County, two more deaths were reported. Sheriff Derick Wheetley confirmed: “The tornado moved from the eastern part of the county, leaving behind a trace of destruction, with multiple completely lost houses and the areas were unrecognizable.” Several others were injured, with conditions ranging from minors to severe.
The same system that triggered Thursday storms and tornadoes in the west media and the great lakes left more than 700,000 homes and businesses without energy for early Saturday, particularly in Missouri and Kentucky, according to Poweroutage.us.
The threat of severe weather is far from finishing. Another round of dangerous storms is expected near the border between the United States and Mexico, which places more than 20 million people in the southwest.
The National Meteorological Service issued a level 3 of 5 for the Dallas, Worth Metleplex on Saturday night, warning of large hail, harmful winds and the potential of more tornadoes.
This severe climate outbreak of several days is expected to continue until Tuesday, since Oklahoma and Kansas will probably see harmful storms on Sunday and Monday. The threat will change to parts of the Mississippi Valley on Tuesday.
(CNN)
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