At Least 26 Killed as Tornadoes Tear Through South and Midwest

Fierce storms and tornadoes tore through the South, Midwest and Northeast, leaving at least 29 people dead and a lot of destruction in their wake. Among the casualties were five people in Arkansas, nine in Tennessee, five in Indiana and four in Illinois. An apparent weather-linked incident in Memphis saw a tree fall on a house – two children, and an adult lost their lives.

The President declared broad areas of the country major disasters, making federal resources available for financial aid and recovery, while Gov. Huckabee in Arkansas declared a state of emergency and activated the National Guard. People raced to recover from the damage, burying the dead, and centering their loved ones in the rubble.

Exact figures regarding the number of tornadoes and the exact places where they hit, might take several days to determine. Several homes and businesses were destroyed while trees were splintered, and neighborhoods were laid to waste in 11 states. In some neighborhoods, power was restored, which was the first step towards recovery.

The governor of Tennessee was left devastated by the tragedies in the area, notably a school shooting in Nashville, and now deadly tornadoes. One of the Tennessee casualties was a family friend of the governor.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker scheduled to visit Belvidere, where a heavy metal concert venue partially collapsed, causing the death of a 50-year-old man. 48 others were treated in hospitals, 5 of them in critical conditions. The Governor also showed intentions of visiting Crawford County, 230 miles south of Chicago, where a tornado hit around New Hebron, leaving three dead and eight injured.

The storms have caused a lot of damage to homes, businesses, and the entire community. Power has been lost, and rescue efforts are ongoing as casualties continue to rise.