The picture isn’t clear yet, but it looks like this could be the largest, most intense, ‘super-outbreak’ of tornadoes in US history.
More information is coming in about the devastation along the storm track.
Here’s what we know right now:
The tornadoes have killed dozens in 5 states, where officials struggle to count dead.
Survivors relive horror; ‘All you could hear was screams’; waited, panicked, prayed.
Strangers find family mementos far from wreckage; Photo lands 130 miles away!
Residents of Kentucky counties where tornadoes killed dozens of people could be without heat, water or electricity in frigid temperatures for weeks or longer.
Illinois
The Amazon collapse – just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis – was being called a “mass casualty incident” by local emergency responders. At least 30 people were bused away from the scene to be reunited with family, officials said.
As many as 50 to 100 employees were believed to be inside the building, FOX 2 of St. Louis reported.
Police received word of the collapse around 8:30 p.m., police told FOX 2 early Saturday. Officials said the emergency response was expected to continue far into Saturday morning.
Devastating tornado damage at an Amazon facility in Edwardsville, Illinois. Two people died in Friday night’s storm. #Edwardsville #Tornado #stlwx pic.twitter.com/MjAb4wMXm4
— FOX2now (@FOX2now) December 11, 2021
Missouri
In St. Charles County, Missouri, to the west of St. Louis, at least one person was killed and three injured when a tornado struck in the town of Defiance, according to FOX 2.
Arkansas
In Craighead County, Arkanas, emergency responders were dealing with a tragedy at the Monette Manor Nursing Home in Monette, FOX 16 of Little Rock reported.
At least 20 people were initially trapped inside the building after a suspected tornado struck, the report said. The damage left at least two people dead and five hurt, the report said.
The nursing home’s roof was ripped off and other buildings in town also were damaged, according to FOX 16.
Survivors were being directed to a local church to reunite with loved ones, the station reported.
Another fatality was reported at a Dollar General store in Leachville, according to The Weather Channel.
Not really the kinds of records you want to see broken. The Mayfield, KY tornado has lofted debris over 30,000 feet into the air. That’s among the most intense ever record. pic.twitter.com/mIkuZzggHC
— Tyler Hofelich (@T_Hofelich) December 11, 2021
Kentucky
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned the commonwealth’s residents Saturday that the tornado death toll there will exceed 70 after a candle factory in Mayfield with around 110 people inside was flattened.
He said a single tornado ripped across the state for more than 200 miles.
Earlier, the governor declared a state of emergency after major tornado damage was reported in the western part of the state.
Beshear called it the “most devastating tornado event in our state’s history.”
“It is indescribable,” he continued. “The level of devastation is unlike anything I have ever seen.”
“Loss of life is expected,” in western Kentucky, the Kentucky State Police wrote on Twitter.
Southwest Kentucky saw “twin tornadoes” strike around 2:20 a.m. near Bowling Green, WDRB reported.
“People that weren’t even official first responders been up all night trying to help their friends and neighbors and family,” Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told “Fox & Friends Weekend.” “Just a devastating thing to go through the community and just something that you hope you never have to witness.”
In Madisonville, Kentucky, a freight-train derailment was reported shortly after midnight, related to severe weather. No injuries were immediately reported, a spokeswoman for rail company CSX Corp. told Fox News.
Tennessee
At least two people were confirmed dead in Obion County, Tennessee, after dangerous storms tore through the area, FOX 17 of Nashville reported. No details were immediately available on how the deaths occurred.
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You should really subscribe to QFiles. You will get very interesting information about strange events around the world.
Never understood why basements or prefab underground shelters weren’t built into code all throughout “Tornado Alley”….
There’s a bunch that happened in the 1950’s -1960’s. That tornado alley area always has had bad tornados. I been in two, and the last one wiped out a small town. Killed 80+ people.
NEVER AGAIN. Done with tornados.
Ain’t called “Tornado Alley” for no reason.