Vicious weather recently wreaked havoc across several U.S. states, causing deadly tornadoes, overwhelming dust storms, and rapidly advancing wildfires over the weekend. At least 39 fatalities have been reported. The devastation in Oklahoma alone saw over 400 homes impacted by wildfires that swept the state on Friday. Stillwater Mayor, Will Joyce, noted on social media that 74 homes were completely destroyed by the fires.
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management confirmed four deaths related to the fires and high winds. While tornado watches decreased, severe wind conditions persisted in parts of the Carolinas, east Georgia, and northern Florida through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
In Mississippi, a tornado shredded a home in Tylertown, where Hailey Hart and her fiancé Steve Romero took cover with their three huskies in their 1994 Toyota Celica. As the twister struck, the car flipped on its side, shattering windows, before coming to a stop. Romero recalled praying while embracing Hart as the storm enveloped them. After the tornado passed, cries for help could be heard nearby. Meanwhile, Hart’s grandparents survived by hiding in a bathroom as their house collapsed.
“We were just praying to God to save us,” Hart’s grandmother, Donna Blansett, recounted. Family and volunteers spent the next day salvaging belongings amidst the rubble, including a photo album and some clothing. Hart expressed her relief through tears, hugging her grandmother.
The storm’s intensity was considered unusually severe for March, leading weather forecasters to issue a rare “high risk” warning. President Donald Trump mentioned on a social platform that the administration stands ready to aid those affected.
The destructive path of the storms spanned numerous states. In central Alabama, tornadoes caused three deaths, including that of an 82-year-old woman. Dillon’s multiple storm systems also damaged Troy’s recreation center, which had been a refuge for many residents, thankfully without causing injuries. A statement from the local parks department expressed gratitude for the protection of the community and storm shelter occupants.
In Missouri, the weekend’s tornadoes left 12 dead. Dakota Henderson recounted discovering five bodies near his aunt’s destroyed home in Wayne County. The devastation in Missouri prompted the county coroner to describe homes reduced to mere debris.
Mississippi experienced additional destruction, with six deaths and over 200 people displaced. Severely flooded roads stranded numerous residents in the state’s northern regions, and a resident recalled witnessing a brief but destructive touchdown of a tornado.
Arkansas confirmed three storm-related deaths, adding to the grim toll. Furthermore, wildfires fueled by high winds in Texas and Oklahoma posed significant dangers, with authorities forecasting increased fire risks in these states. Oklahoma saw over 130 fires in total, with local officials lamenting the difficulties of combating blazes amid intense winds.
Dust storms also tragically contributed to fatalities, including a massive highway pileup in Kansas that killed eight people. Amarillo, Texas, experienced fatal car accidents as a result of these dust storms.
