Death toll from storms lashing central U.S. rises to seven
Debris from destroyed homes is shown in this aerial photo after a tornado touched down overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Drone Base
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Reuters) - The latest in a line of destructive storms pounding the central United States killed at least three people as tornadoes raked across Missouri while heavy rain flooded rivers in Oklahoma, authorities said on Thursday.
The three deaths and several injuries were recorded in and around Golden City, Missouri, some 30 miles (48 km) northeast of Joplin where a tornado touched down on Wednesday evening, the Missouri Department of Public Safety said on Twitter.
Debris from destroyed homes is shown in this aerial photo after a tornado touched down overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Drone Base
The casualties brought the week's weather-related death toll to at least seven, as forecasters said the rain and threat of damaging winds were not expected to let up.
"It looks to stay quite wet over the next week across the central portion of the country," said meteorologist Mark Chenard of the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.
A system of showers stretched from the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma north to Nebraska on Thursday, threatening to bring more flooding, Chenard said. A diminished threat of tornadoes will persist from the Texas Panhandle through Kansas, he said.
Residents help cover broken windows with plywood boards following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik Tavitian
In Jefferson City, the state capital of Missouri, officials said a "massive" twister caused widespread damage but no fatalities.
"Many, many buildings have significant damage, and there's a lot of them that just have small damage as well, so it's just very widespread," Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin told CNN.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson said at least 20 people were treated at hospitals but that most had been released.
Debris from a damaged building is shown in this aerial photo after a tornado touched down overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Drone Base
"The damage tornadoes & severe storms cause is devastating, but I am encouraged & inspired by storm survivors. In a time of tragedy, Missourians came together and cared for their neighbors, and our first responders acted with speed & skill to rescue survivors," Parson wrote on Twitter.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Twitter that his heart went out to the people of Missouri.
"You are strong and resilient, and we are here to assist," he wrote.
Debris from damaged buildings is shown in this aerial photo after a tornado touched down overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Drone Base
Trump also urged Oklahomans to stay safe and listen to the warnings of local officials. "We are with you!" he tweeted.
Earlier this week, a tornado killed at least one person in Iowa, while two people in Oklahoma died in accidents on rain-slicked roads and a third in flooding.
The Arkansas River town of Webbers Falls was ordered evacuated on Thursday, while residents of several other communities were advised to leave, Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Caine said by phone.
Kennie Birdon, James Jackson and Annette Coleboner survey damage to their home following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik Tavitian
(Reporting by Peter Szekely in New York, Rich McKay in Atlanta and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Tom Brown)
A Jefferson City resident takes photos of debris following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA damaged car is parked on Woodlawn Avenue following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianFirefighters and city building division employees check for damages and injuries on Woodlawn Avenue following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA damaged car sits parked on Woodlawn Avenue following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA FEMA employee surveys damage on Woodlawn Avenue following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA transformer lays fallen on top of a home on Union Street following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA member of the Jefferson City Fire Department checks houses for people on Woodland Avenue following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA house on the Arkansas River, that floated away, hits the Ozark-Jeta Taylor Lock & Dam in Ozark, Arkansas, U.S., May 23, 2019 in this still image obtained from a social media video on May 23, 2019. STEVEN WRIGHT/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.A firefighter and FEMA employee survey damage on Woodlawn Avenue following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianA snapped telephone pole lies on he ground on Union Street following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik TavitianDamage is seen on a street after a tornado in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019, in this image taken from social media. Tyler Thompson/via REUTERS TDamage is seen on a street after a tornado in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019, in this image taken from social media. Tyler Thompson/via REUTERS A damaged sign is seen after a tornado in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019, in this still image taken from video obtained from social media. Jared Sheneman/via REUTERS Damage is seen on a street after a tornado in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019, in this image taken from social media. Tyler Thompson/via REUTERS Damage is seen on a street after a tornado in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019, in this image taken from social media. Tyler Thompson/via REUTERS A street is seen after a tornado in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019, in this image taken from social media. Tyler Thompson/via REUTERS A snapped telephone pole lies on he ground on Union Street following a tornado touchdown overnight in Jefferson City, Missouri, U.S. May 23, 2019. REUTERS/Antranik Tavitian
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
