A shaky sequence of 24 tornadoes hit five states in the central United States today (Saturday) and claimed at least 50 lives, after the tornadoes hit many places in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. There are many reports of wounded and trapped in various places across the U.S. In Kentucky a state of emergency has been declared and local police have warned that more deaths are expected.
The Kentucky governor reported that about 50 people were killed as a result of the tornado, and that the death toll could be significantly higher. “The reports are really heartbreaking,” he said. “The damage from this storm will probably be the worst we’ve seen in a long time.”
A tornado hit Amazon warehouses in Illinois, USA (Photo: Reuters)
In Arkansas, at least two people were killed and five injured after a tornado hit a nursing home. At least three people were killed in Tennessee and in Illinois, Amazon warehouses were badly damaged and the roof of the building collapsed, and there were wounded and trapped. In all, more than 55 million people across the country are at risk for severe storms, and at least 157,000 customers have lost electricity in six countries.
CONFIRMED: Monette Manor a nursing home in Monette, Arkansas took a direct hit by a very large tornado & collapsed with patients inside. Docs/RNs are pleading for help. pic.twitter.com/g3HDyYy7bX
– Ellen Bacca (@ellenbacca) December 11, 2021
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In Arkansas, as mentioned, a tornado hit a nursing home and caused one death and several injuries. Earlier, two people were reported killed, but a local coroner said only one person was killed. “Everyone has been taken out of the nursing home and is receiving care,” said Mayor Bob Blankenship. “We have a triage center set up at the local school where people are treated and others are transferred to local hospitals.”
About 12 miles away, in Litchville, a woman was reportedly killed after she was trapped in an “all-dollar” store when the tornado hit the city, and was unable to get out, Mississippi County Sheriff Dale Cook told CNN.
Video of the tornado that hit the Amazon facility near Edwardsville, IL tonight… from Danielle Henke pic.twitter.com/5CNbJ03VzI
– James Spann (@spann) December 11, 2021
In Illinois, Amazon warehouses were damaged in Edwardsville. There are still no details on the extent of the damage and the condition of the workers at the site, but CNN reported that family members of workers said they were trapped at the site. “They were actually calm. They were just trying to figure out how to get out,” said a woman whose cousin works in a warehouse. A video from the scene showed a major emergency response.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he turned to Edwardsville Mayor for assistance. “My prayers are with the Edwardsville residents tonight, and I have reached out to the mayor to provide all the necessary state resources. Illinois police and emergency and rescue services are closely coordinated with local officials, and I will continue to monitor the situation,” the governor said in a tweet on his Twitter account.
This was video taken near Hwy 157 & I-270, just east of St. Louis, as a tornado-warned storm moved through. This was near the Amazon facility that sustained damage and where some people were reported trapped inside.
????: Edwardsville, IL
⏰: Approx. 8:40PM (CT) pic.twitter.com/Dz8YSlgcDN— Stephen Morgan (@StephenMorganTV) December 11, 2021
In Tennessee, a number of buildings were damaged and an unknown number of people were captured in Samborg, according to Union City Police Chief Carl Ulrich. “It’s just a small community. It’s pretty flat,” Ovion County Sheriff’s Office representative Judy Faulkner told CNN. Samburg is located in the northwestern part of the state, north of Memphis.
Also in Kentucky, police have reported that there may be casualties after a series of “severe tornadoes” in several counties. “Although no casualties have been confirmed at this time, deaths are expected,” local emergency officials wrote in a Twitter tweet. Significant damage was also reported in Mayfield, a city of about 10,000 people. Photos showed damage done to Graves County Court and a nearby jail.
Large Violent Tornado went across both interstates heading for Caruthersville, MO. #mowx #Tornado pic.twitter.com/boNZEWZJqs
— Michael Gordon (@WX_ManMike) December 11, 2021
As mentioned, to date, tornadoes have hit Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, and in total, more than 55 million people across the country have been at risk for severe storms, and at least 157,000 customers have lost electricity in six states.
“This dynamic and widespread storm will affect more than half of the country. It’s a classic collision of air masses,” CNN meteorologist Gene Norman said.
“When the cold, arctic air rises to the south, it will collide with hot, humid air in the south, causing severe storms where masses of air meet.”
WOW! Twin Tornadoes tonight in Bay Arkansas southeast of Jonesboro, AR!????
Permission: Angie Burgess@WeatherBug #ARwx #MOwx #Arkansas #Missouri #Tornado #Tornadoes pic.twitter.com/9F89CJ5JZb
— Live Storm Chasers (@LiveStormChaser) December 11, 2021
The Storm Forecasting Center warned of other possible storms in central and eastern Arkansas, southeastern Missouri, northwestern Mississippi, western Tennessee, western Kentucky, southern Illinois and southwestern Indiana.
“The main concerns will be from occasional tornadoes and scattered and harmful thunderstorms,” said the Storm Forecasting Center, which said the vast majority of storms are expected to occur after dark. “Tornado storms at night are more than twice as deadly as storms a day,” said CNN meteorologist Dave Hannen.
Moderate risk of severe storms – Level 4 out of 5 – was issued for over 2 million people, including in the city of Memphis, where there is the highest probability of strong tornadoes with winds of at least 111 mph and above. According to a CNN report, this time The last time there was a moderate risk of severe storms in December was in December 2019.
Some of the extent of the tornado damage in Mayfield, KY from @AlaStormTracker pic.twitter.com/qCZvreYBe7
— Steve Glazier (@SteveGlazier) December 11, 2021
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