Five people, including a four-month-old infant, have tragically lost their lives as a result of the havoc wreaked by numerous tornadoes tearing through the central United States, inflicting severe devastation.
Following distinct storm fronts that commenced on Friday, tens of thousands of inhabitants found themselves without electricity.
In Oklahoma, where a state of emergency has been proclaimed in a dozen counties, four fatalities occurred. Additionally, in Iowa, a separate storm system unleashed its fury on the Midwest, leading to the demise of a fifth individual, as per local media accounts.
The National Weather Service (NWS) disclosed that a preliminary investigation had ascertained that a certain tornado on Saturday boasted gusts exceeding 136 miles (218km) per hour.
The tumultuous storms, spanning from Texas to Missouri, were accompanied by a deluge of up to seven inches (18cm) of rainfall within mere hours, according to reports from the AFP news agency.
The town of Sulphur, situated in eastern Oklahoma, bore the brunt of the onslaught. Footage depicting the aftermath revealed homes reduced to rubble and vehicles overturned. Approximately 100 injuries were reported by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, with the towns of Holdenville and Marietta also suffering considerable damage.
Addressing a press briefing in Sulphur on Sunday, Charles McCall, the speaker of the Oklahoma state House of Representatives, asserted the resilience of the affected areas, stating, “We will rise, we’ll clean up, we’ll rebuild and we’ll move forward.”
Governor Kevin Stitt, during his visit to Sulphur, expressed shock at the extent of the devastation, remarking, “You just can’t believe the destruction.”
He further lamented the destruction of numerous downtown businesses, describing the scene as unparalleled in his six-year tenure.
The White House disclosed that US President Joe Biden had conversed with Governor Stitt, extending the federal government’s unwavering support in the wake of the catastrophe.
These catastrophic events come in the wake of a separate weather disturbance that unleashed over 70 tornadoes in the Midwestern states of Nebraska and Iowa on Friday. Predominantly centred around the city of Omaha, the tornadoes left a trail of destruction and terror.
One Omaha resident, Brent Richardson, recounted his harrowing experience, describing the deafening roar of the tornado as it tore through his neighbourhood. “Utter destruction, just chaos,” he lamented, highlighting the community’s efforts to assist those trapped in their homes amidst the devastation.
Governor of Nebraska issued emergency declarations for three counties, rendering them eligible for additional funds to aid in rescue and recovery operations.
While the threat of tornadoes appears to have diminished, meteorologist Brandon Buckingham from the commercial forecaster AccuWeather warns of the continued possibility of damaging winds and hail, particularly across north-eastern Texas, northern Louisiana, Arkansas, and southern Missouri.
Chioma Kalu
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