May 26th 2024.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the central United States was hit by powerful storms on Sunday, resulting in the loss of at least 15 lives and widespread destruction. The states of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas were the hardest hit, with homes being obliterated and a truck stop being completely decimated. Tragically, this was not the first time that this region has been struck by deadly weather.
The most severe damage was reported in a region stretching from north of Dallas to the northwest corner of Arkansas. As the day progressed, the storm system threatened to bring even more violent weather to other parts of the Midwest and potentially to the East Coast on Monday. In Cooke County, Texas, near the Oklahoma border, a tornado tore through a rural area and a mobile home park, resulting in seven fatalities. Two people were also killed in Oklahoma, and tens of thousands were left without power across the region.
In the aftermath of the storms, Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington described the devastation as severe, with a trail of debris left in its wake. Among the victims were two young children, ages 2 and 5, who tragically lost their lives. In the small community of Valley View, which was one of the hardest hit areas, three family members were found dead in their home.
Hugo Parra, a resident of Farmers Branch, north of Dallas, shared his harrowing experience of riding out the storm with 40 to 50 others in the bathroom of a truck stop near Valley View. Despite the storm shearing off the roof and walls of the building, they were lucky to survive. Multiple people were transported to hospitals in Denton County, Texas, but the full extent of the injuries was not yet known.
In addition to the fatalities in Texas and Oklahoma, five people lost their lives in Arkansas, including a 26-year-old woman who was found dead outside her destroyed home. Another person died in Benton County, and two more bodies were found in Marion County. In Mayes County, east of Tulsa, two people also lost their lives. Tragically, the destruction extended beyond these states, with a man in Louisville, Kentucky being killed when a tree fell on him during the storm.
This series of storms continues a devastating month of severe weather in the midsection of the country. Tornadoes in Iowa earlier in the week claimed the lives of at least five people and caused numerous injuries. Sadly, this season has been particularly bad for tornadoes, which have been exacerbated by the effects of climate change. In fact, April saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record in the country.
Warnings from meteorologists and authorities to seek shelter were issued as the storms swept through the region. The National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma even took to social media to urge people in the storm's path to take cover immediately. As the sun rose on Sunday, the full extent of the devastation became apparent. Residents were met with overturned cars, collapsed garages, and a trail of debris. In Valley View, where the truck stop was destroyed, entire roofs were ripped off homes and windows were blown out.
The severe weather also caused widespread power outages, affecting hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Arkansas and Missouri were hit the hardest, with both states reporting over 100,000 customers without power. In Texas and Oklahoma, tens of thousands were also left without electricity. The damage was so severe that the town of Claremore, near Tulsa, had to shut down due to inaccessible roads and downed power lines.
As the Memorial Day weekend continued, the storm system moved east, causing the start of the Indianapolis 500 to be delayed and the evacuation of over 125,000 race fans. More severe weather was predicted for Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky, with the risk of severe weather extending into North Carolina and Virginia on Monday. As the affected communities begin to pick up the pieces and mourn their losses, our hearts go out to all those impacted by these devastating storms.
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