At least five people in Missouri were killed on Wednesday when a tornado plowed through the southeastern part of the state.
According to the Associated Press, the storm hit around 3:30 am Wednesday and traveled through Bollinger County, uprooting trees, demolishing houses and even flipping one building on its side.
State Highway Patrol Superintendent Eric Olson said five people were killed, and five more were injured. Much of the damage was centered in the village of Glen Allen and the small rural community of Grassy.
On Wednesday, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson toured the storm damage area and said President Joe Biden told him that federal help was coming.
“I will tell you, I just know because I grew up in a little small town, these small towns, these counties and these cities will come together to help one another out,” Parson said.
National Weather Service meteorologist in Paducah, Kentucky, Justin Gibbs noted that the tornado spent about 15 minutes on the ground and traveled about 15-20 miles. Early data indicated that the tornado earned a preliminary EF-2 rating, reaching speeds up to 130 mph (228 kph).
“It’s definitely a nightmare from a warning standpoint,” Gibbs said. “It’s bad anytime, but it’s especially bad at 3:30 in the morning.”
Glen Allen residents said that at least some of the victims were part of a family living in a trailer near a state highway. Bobby Masters, who lives in Glen Allen, recalled taking shelter in the basement with this family when the tornado passed.
“I had never heard a tornado before. They say it sounds like a freight train, and that is exactly what it sounds like,” he said. “The good Lord spared us, our family and our house.”
Wednesday’s storm follows a series of tornadoes that struck at least eight states last weekend, killing at least 32 people.
Related:
Dozens of Tornadoes Kill at Least 32 across 8 U.S. States
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Michael B. Thomas/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for Christian Headlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
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