From March 14 to 16, a series of devastating storms, including tornadoes, wildfires, and dust storms ripped through a number of states, claiming the lives of at least 42 people.
Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, said roughly 72 million people were under a wind advisory at the time of the storms and that low pressure systems were to blame for the extreme weather.
Hundreds of homes and businesses across eight states in the South and Midwest were destroyed.
In Missouri tornadoes claimed the lives of at least a dozen people, and destroyed homes and businesses in one of the hardest hit areas, Wayne County.
Authorities are still searching through debris for survivors and victims with Butler County Coroner, Jim Akers, telling the Epoch Times, that homes are “unrecognizable” and where one man lost his life it was “just a debris field.”
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“The floor was upside down,” he said. “We were walking on walls.”
As of March 15, in Mississippi, at least six people died in three counties with rescue parties searching for three others before the storm turned east into Alabama, leaving some roads impassable and a number of homes damaged.
States of emergency declared
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, which hit his state on March 16.
Kemp posted to X following the declaration, “praying for all those impacted by this storm system and those still in its path.”
“We will continue to work closely with state and local officials to respond to damage and assess any needs following this weather event,” Kemp added.
Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri were among the other states to declare a state of emergency.
On March 15, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency for 12 counties, due to devastating wildfires and straight-line winds.
In Arkansas, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared an emergency following severe thunderstorms and tornadoes that struck the state, causing significant loss of life.
Mike Kehoe, Governor of Missouri, signed Executive Order 25-19 on March 14, declaring a state of emergency ahead of anticipated severe weather, including high winds and an increased risk of tornadoes. The action activated the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan to coordinate state agency assistance with local jurisdictions.
Tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms
Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Indiana all experienced tornadoes. An EF3 tornado caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, leading to several fatalities.
In Arkansas, communities such as Cave City and Jacksonport were severely impacted, including an EF4 tornado that caused significant damage to homes and other structures.
Late night storms in Illinois and Indiana produced damaging winds and multiple tornadoes, including EF0 and EF1 tornadoes that affected areas including Yorkville, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Cedar Lake, Schererville, and Merrillville, according to the National Weather Service.
In Texas, dry and windy conditions contributed to the rapid spread of wildfires.
The Hill Country fire in Texas, created critical fire conditions due to strong winds and low humidity. The Crabapple fire, among others, led to evacuations and posed significant threats to communities.
In Kansas high winds were to blame for large dust storms that reduced visibility and caused hazardous conditions. The conditions lead to a number of multi-vehicle collisions on Interstate 70, resulting in multiple fatalities.
Clean up continues
As of March 19, the cleanup continues as President Donald Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to Arkansas to support local authorities in disaster response and recovery efforts.
Trump also signed an executive order on the 19th transferring disaster preparedness responsibilities from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to state and local governments. The order aims to enhance infrastructure preparedness for natural disasters and other threats, promoting risk-informed decision making at all levels of government.
In Missouri, where tornadoes claimed the lives of at least 12 people, Kehoe described the devastation as “staggering” while emphasizing a focus on action alongside mourning the dead.
Students from the Missouri University of Science and Technology are participating in the cleanup efforts by removing debris and assisting impacted residents.
Meanwhile in Arkansas, Gov. Huckabee Sanders authorized disaster funds to support recovery efforts following the tornadoes.
Community cleanup continues in towns like Cave CIty and Cushman which experienced significant devastation with tornadoes claiming at least 20 lives.
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