On Friday, the United States experienced a powerful tornado that tore through Little Rock, Arkansas and other parts of Central Arkansas. The National Weather Service declared a tornado emergency after the twister touched down in the western part of the capital and caused “catastrophic” damages. Homes, businesses, and vehicles were reported to have suffered extensive damage, and the Little Rock Fire Department performed rescue operations in the area. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical Center was operating at a mass casualty level with at least 15 to 20 patients transported to the hospital, one of whom was in critical condition. I *
Two more tornadoes were confirmed in Iowa, damaging hail fell in Illinois, and wind-whipped grass fires blazed in Oklahoma as part of a massive storm system threatening a wide swath of the country. In Illinois, cars and homes in the area of Roanoke had their windows smashed out from large chunks of hail. Nearly 94,000 people in the state are without electricity according to the Outage Tracker PowerOutage.us and 32,000 people were left without power in Oklahoma. I *
The United States experiences more tornadoes than any other country, with an average of 1,150 to 1,200 per year due to the combination of geography and climate, which create ideal conditions for spinning storms. These storms can quickly cause destruction, tearing through neighborhoods and leaving behind scars in their aftermath. I *
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared state of emergency and President Biden authorized more access to federal resources for recovery efforts. The storm prediction center issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” tornado watch for various states and the Weather Service issued a tornado emergency for multiple regions. I *
The destructive power of a tornado is undeniable, leaving behind injuries and destruction in its wake. It is important for individuals to stay aware of the weather and take necessary precautions to remain safe.