Residents in Piedmont, Mo. were left reeling from the aftermath of violent tornadoes, high winds, and dust storms that ravaged the area, resulting in at least 35 fatalities. The National Weather Service issued tornado watches for parts of the Carolinas, east Georgia, and northern Florida, warning of potential damaging winds and more tornadoes. Meteorologist Cody Snell highlighted the ongoing threat of severe weather as a cold front moved across the country, with the East Coast expected to be affected until later in the evening. The recent storms, spanning from Friday to Sunday, were deemed a “high risk” event by forecasters. Despite the severity of the weather, experts noted that such extreme conditions are not uncommon for March.
In central Alabama, three individuals lost their lives due to multiple tornados, including an 82-year-old woman who perished when her manufactured home was destroyed. Meanwhile, in Missouri, the death toll climbed to 12, with reports of scattered bodies found in the debris. Search and rescue efforts were ongoing in the wake of the devastating twisters, with authorities facing daunting tasks in assessing the extent of the damage. Mississippi and Arkansas also experienced significant casualties, with six fatalities reported in Mississippi and three in Arkansas.
The impact of the storms was profound, with residents like Bailey Dillon witnessing the catastrophic destruction firsthand. She described the scene near Paradise Ranch RV Park as “catastrophic,” with numerous cabins, RVs, and campers overturned and destroyed. Despite the widespread devastation, efforts were made to ensure the safety of individuals in the affected areas. The Parks Department in Troy, Alabama, announced the closure of a recreation center due to storm damage, though no injuries were reported among the over 200 sheltered guests. The community remained grateful for the protection offered during the turbulent weather events.
In Arkansas, officials have confirmed three deaths, while dust storms caused 11 fatalities in Kansas and Texas. The storm system’s early high winds triggered dust storms that led to nearly a dozen deaths on Friday. Eight individuals lost their lives in a massive Kansas highway pileup involving over 50 vehicles, as reported by the state highway patrol. Additionally, three people died in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, Texas.
Oklahoma faced wildfires with over 130 fires reported and nearly 300 homes damaged or destroyed, according to Governor Kevin Stitt. Some of the extreme weather images went viral online.
Tad Peters and his father, Richard Peters, were in Rolla, Missouri, fueling up their pickup truck when they heard tornado sirens and saw other motorists fleeing the interstate to park. They decided to head back to Norman, Oklahoma, after witnessing the severe weather conditions, where they later encountered a wildfire.
Contributors to this report include Walker from New York, Reynolds from Louisville, Kentucky, Shipkowski from Toms River, New Jersey, Roberson from Wayne County, Missouri, Johnson from Seattle, and Har from San Francisco.
