In Piedmont, Missouri, communities are grappling with the destruction left in the wake of severe weather that ravaged parts of the United States over the weekend. On Sunday, residents began assessing the widespread damage inflicted by numerous tornadoes, powerful winds, and dust storms that devastated homes and infrastructure, resulting in at least 35 fatalities.
According to meteorologist Cody Snell from the National Weather Service, tornado watches remained active Sunday morning in areas including parts of the Carolinas, eastern Georgia, and northern Florida. Snell noted that while the primary concern is destructive winds, there remains a risk of additional tornadoes striking.
“The potential for severe weather extends today from the upper Ohio Valley and western Pennsylvania through the mid-Atlantic and Southeast,” Snell explained. “This will continue as a cold front pushes across the country, not reaching the East Coast until later tonight.”
The storm system that spanned from Friday to Sunday was classified as “high risk” by weather forecasters due to its intensity. However, experts emphasized that such dramatic weather events are not uncommon in March.
In Alabama, the death toll has climbed to three, with the central region of the state bearing the brunt of multiple tornadoes. Among those who perished was an 82-year-old woman in a mobile home destroyed by a twister, Dallas County Sheriff Michael L. Granthum confirmed.
In Troy, Alabama, the recreation center, which sheltered over 200 people during the storm, suffered substantial damage and will remain closed. Officials expressed gratitude that everyone at the shelter emerged unhurt.
Missouri authorities have reported 12 fatalities following severe tornadoes. Dakota Henderson from Wayne County recounted the tragic scene where he and others found five victims in the debris outside what was left of a home. “It’s a harrowing situation,” said Henderson, recalling how they rescued his aunt from the last standing room of her house.
In Butler County, Coroner Jim Akers described a site where a residence became unrecognizable and noted that assessing the destruction was akin to navigating through a debris field.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves stated that the state suffered six deaths across three counties and that three individuals remained missing. One fatality was reported in Covington County when a tornado dismantled homes and infrastructure.
Bailey Dillon and her fiancé, Caleb Barnes, witnessed the devastation from their porch in Tylertown and drove to aid those affected. They described the overwhelming destruction of buildings and vehicles in areas around Paradise Ranch RV Park.
Arkansas officials confirmed three deaths owing to the tempestuous conditions.
High winds associated with the storm system sparked deadly dust storms, claiming 11 lives in Kansas and Texas. Eight individuals perished in Kansas following a massive highway collision involving over 50 vehicles. Meanwhile, Amarillo, Texas, saw three fatalities as a result of vehicular accidents during the dust storm.
Oklahoma faced its own challenges with over 130 fires and nearly 300 homes damaged or obliterated, according to Governor Kevin Stitt.
Social media was awash with videos documenting the severe weather, including footage from Missouri where Tad Peters and his father sought shelter from a tornado.
The extreme weather led the father and son to abandon their trip to Indiana and instead return to Norman, Oklahoma, where they faced wildfires.
