Tornadoes and Storms Kill 18 Across Central U.S.

 

Tornadoes and Storms Kill 18 Across Central U.S.

Severe weather, including tornadoes and storms, devastated central areas of the U.S., killing at least 18 people, destroying homes, and leaving hundreds of thousands without power.

Death Toll and Impact

The storms claimed seven lives in northern Texas, eight in Arkansas, two in Oklahoma, and one in Kentucky. Many others were injured, and nearly 500,000 people were left without electricity on Sunday.

In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster in more than a third of the state's counties. Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington reported that the death toll there included two children, aged two and five, and three members of the same family.

Sheriff Sappington described the destruction in the Valley View area as severe, with significant debris left behind. Footage from Cooke County showed a petrol station and rest stop almost completely destroyed, with twisted metal scattered over damaged vehicles.

Extensive Damage

The tornadoes overturned trucks, shut down a highway near Dallas, and caused

 widespread power outages throughout the region. Lightning, thunder, and heavy rain forced the evacuation of around 125,000 spectators as Sunday's Indianapolis 500 race was delayed by four hours.

In north Texas, Frank Solicitors mobile home was destroyed within minutes when a storm passed through. Soltysiak took shelter in a restaurant's walk-in refrigerator, emerging to find everything gone. He described the experience as surreal, with everything destroyed in just two minutes.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said emergency response units had been activated to help those affected by the tornadoes. He urged prayers for the families who lost loved ones, calling their loss unfathomable.

Additional Impact

In Oklahoma, two people were killed in Mayes County, and six others were injured. In Arkansas, a 26-year-old woman was found dead outside a destroyed home in Olvey, while another death was reported in Benton County. The state also reported multiple injuries and significant damage, with police rescuing several people trapped by downed trees and power lines.

In Kentucky, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenburg confirmed that a man was killed by a falling tree during a severe storm.

Storms Move East

By Sunday afternoon, the storm system had started moving east, with the National Weather Service warning of severe wind and hail in its path. Governor Abbott acknowledged the heart-wrenching loss of life, particularly noting the tragedy of a family losing two young children.

The widespread power outages affected nearly 470,000 people across Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky, according to Poweroutage.us. In Kansas's Sedgwick County, which includes Wichita, emergency services were dealing with downed trees and power lines, with about 8,000 customers without power.

These tornadoes follow another deadly tornado that hit a rural Iowa town earlier in May, killing four people. Government

 forecasters have predicted an extraordinary 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins next month.