Mama San
Administrator
Has anyone heard from Kickingbird????
I pray for the safety and well being of all!!
PIERCE CITY, Mo. (May 5) - A swarm of tornadoes crashed through the Midwest, killing at least 19 people in Kansas and Missouri. Another eight people were feared dead in this hard-hit city when the armory where they had taken shelter was virtually leveled.
Houses across the region were knocked off their foundations, trees were uprooted, power lines littered roadways and travelers were forced to huddle in underground tunnels at Kansas City's main airport.
In Pierce City, there was not a home or business in the town of nearly 1,400 residents untouched by a tornado. Trees were twisted and brick, glass and other debris made it impossible to walk the streets.
Eight people were feared dead in the city's damaged National Guard Armory, Lawrence County Sheriff Doug Seneker said. Two bodies were pulled from the rubble. An additional person who was believed to have been in the armory was found alive elsewhere.
Searchers accompanied by dogs were digging through the armory debris in hopes of finding the missing victims alive, but the brick-and-wood structure was unstable and the process was going slowly.
''They're hearing no signs of life, but they are still working to find them,'' said state Rep. Jack Goodman, who grew up in Pierce City and was in town when the storm hit.
Residents in the town had gone to the armory in search of shelter as the weather worsened. When they realized the tornado was headed their way, they attempted to make it into the basement, Goodman said.
''Apparently there was a bottleneck at the top of the stairs going to the basement that was so bad that few, if any, made it down there,'' Goodman said.
''I've never been in anything like this. It was absolutely terrible,'' said Pierce City clerk Julie Johnson, who rode out the storm in the armory bathroom.
Missouri's fatalities included three Lawrence County residents. Two women were reported dead in nearby Greene and Christian counties, and three more people were killed in Camden County, about 70 miles northeast of Lawrence County, the Camden County Sheriff's Department said. In Barton County, one person was killed when a tornado struck west of Liberal, officials said. Another victim was killed at a trailer park in Monett, just to the south of Pierce City in Barry County.
In Carl Junction, about two miles northwest of Joplin, two people were killed by a twister there, said officer Tiffany Sparks with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.
Gov. Bob Holden said the damage was ''the worst I've seen from a tornado in several years.'' National Guard troops were sent to protect hard-hit areas.
Holden toured Northmoor, a small town in Platte County, where between 25 and 30 homes were either damaged or destroyed. The town's City Hall and police station also were damaged.
''I had to hold on with all my strength,'' said resident Charles Tholl, who was with his girlfriend and five children when the storm hit. ''It was scary. It felt like the house was twirling.''
In Kansas, seven people were reported dead and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declared seven counties disaster areas. Col. Joy Moser of the state's emergency management office, said three deaths were reported in Crawford County, three in Cherokee County, and one in Wyandotte County.
''My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been touched by this disaster, especially those who have lost loved ones,'' Sebelius said. ''We will work together to help our communities to assess the damage and then rebuild and recover.''
The tornadoes were part of a large storm system that hit the Midwest, spawning twisters in South Dakota and Nebraska as well.
At Kansas City, Mo. International Airport, officials stopped all flights and evacuated the terminals. Passengers were ushered into underground tunnels leading to parking garages. After about 30 minutes, the passengers were allowed to leave and the airport was reopened.
Cars and trucks were tossed into a ravine full of splintered trees in Kansas City, Kan., and several houses were knocked off their foundations.
Jodee Nirschl, whose house is directly across from the ravine, said windows were blown out and a chunk of the second floor was missing.
''My daughter's room is gone, but she's OK,'' Nirschl said, her voice breaking and tears coming to her eyes. ''As long as I have my kids and my husband, I'll be OK.''
Storms earlier unleashed tornadoes in Nebraska, dumping rain and some hail over most of the drought-parched state. South Dakota authorities also reported tornadoes.
''We got smacked,'' said Herb Johnston, who lives east of Minatare, Neb. ''We lost a shed and windows in the house, and I think we've got half the cornfield in the house now.''
God bless,
Mama san
I pray for the safety and well being of all!!
PIERCE CITY, Mo. (May 5) - A swarm of tornadoes crashed through the Midwest, killing at least 19 people in Kansas and Missouri. Another eight people were feared dead in this hard-hit city when the armory where they had taken shelter was virtually leveled.
Houses across the region were knocked off their foundations, trees were uprooted, power lines littered roadways and travelers were forced to huddle in underground tunnels at Kansas City's main airport.
In Pierce City, there was not a home or business in the town of nearly 1,400 residents untouched by a tornado. Trees were twisted and brick, glass and other debris made it impossible to walk the streets.
Eight people were feared dead in the city's damaged National Guard Armory, Lawrence County Sheriff Doug Seneker said. Two bodies were pulled from the rubble. An additional person who was believed to have been in the armory was found alive elsewhere.
Searchers accompanied by dogs were digging through the armory debris in hopes of finding the missing victims alive, but the brick-and-wood structure was unstable and the process was going slowly.
''They're hearing no signs of life, but they are still working to find them,'' said state Rep. Jack Goodman, who grew up in Pierce City and was in town when the storm hit.
Residents in the town had gone to the armory in search of shelter as the weather worsened. When they realized the tornado was headed their way, they attempted to make it into the basement, Goodman said.
''Apparently there was a bottleneck at the top of the stairs going to the basement that was so bad that few, if any, made it down there,'' Goodman said.
''I've never been in anything like this. It was absolutely terrible,'' said Pierce City clerk Julie Johnson, who rode out the storm in the armory bathroom.
Missouri's fatalities included three Lawrence County residents. Two women were reported dead in nearby Greene and Christian counties, and three more people were killed in Camden County, about 70 miles northeast of Lawrence County, the Camden County Sheriff's Department said. In Barton County, one person was killed when a tornado struck west of Liberal, officials said. Another victim was killed at a trailer park in Monett, just to the south of Pierce City in Barry County.
In Carl Junction, about two miles northwest of Joplin, two people were killed by a twister there, said officer Tiffany Sparks with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.
Gov. Bob Holden said the damage was ''the worst I've seen from a tornado in several years.'' National Guard troops were sent to protect hard-hit areas.
Holden toured Northmoor, a small town in Platte County, where between 25 and 30 homes were either damaged or destroyed. The town's City Hall and police station also were damaged.
''I had to hold on with all my strength,'' said resident Charles Tholl, who was with his girlfriend and five children when the storm hit. ''It was scary. It felt like the house was twirling.''
In Kansas, seven people were reported dead and Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius declared seven counties disaster areas. Col. Joy Moser of the state's emergency management office, said three deaths were reported in Crawford County, three in Cherokee County, and one in Wyandotte County.
''My thoughts and prayers are with those who have been touched by this disaster, especially those who have lost loved ones,'' Sebelius said. ''We will work together to help our communities to assess the damage and then rebuild and recover.''
The tornadoes were part of a large storm system that hit the Midwest, spawning twisters in South Dakota and Nebraska as well.
At Kansas City, Mo. International Airport, officials stopped all flights and evacuated the terminals. Passengers were ushered into underground tunnels leading to parking garages. After about 30 minutes, the passengers were allowed to leave and the airport was reopened.
Cars and trucks were tossed into a ravine full of splintered trees in Kansas City, Kan., and several houses were knocked off their foundations.
Jodee Nirschl, whose house is directly across from the ravine, said windows were blown out and a chunk of the second floor was missing.
''My daughter's room is gone, but she's OK,'' Nirschl said, her voice breaking and tears coming to her eyes. ''As long as I have my kids and my husband, I'll be OK.''
Storms earlier unleashed tornadoes in Nebraska, dumping rain and some hail over most of the drought-parched state. South Dakota authorities also reported tornadoes.
''We got smacked,'' said Herb Johnston, who lives east of Minatare, Neb. ''We lost a shed and windows in the house, and I think we've got half the cornfield in the house now.''
God bless,
Mama san
