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Violent Tornado Strikes Jefferson City, Mo., in Night of Storms Across Region Violent Tornado Strikes Jefferson City, Mo., in Night of Storms Across Region
(about 1 hour later)
A band of storms raged from Oklahoma to Illinois on Wednesday evening, unleashing several tornadoes, including one that struck Missouri’s capital, Jefferson City. A powerful tornado, part of a band of storms that raged through the Plains and the Midwest, struck the Missouri capital late Wednesday, destroying buildings, felling power poles and sparking a vast emergency response as officials faced reports of people trapped in rubble.
At least three people were killed in a separate tornado in southwestern Missouri, the police said. Damage was reported across the state, and emergency personnel were rescuing people trapped in buildings in Jefferson City early Thursday. The full scale of the devastation was not immediately clear, but the Missouri Department of Public Safety said the damage in part of Jefferson City, the capital, was “extensive.” Shelters opened, and state troopers and local emergency officials were going door-to-door, searching for survivors on Thursday morning.
“Across the state, Missouri’s first responders once again responded quickly and with strong coordination as much of the state dealt with extremely dangerous conditions that left people injured, trapped in homes, and tragically led to the death of three people,” Gov. Mike Parson of Missouri said in a statement on Thursday morning.
According to the police and Mr. Parson’s office, the three fatalities were linked to a separate tornado in Golden City, which is about two hours southeast of the Kansas City area. In addition to Jefferson City and Golden City, the governor’s office said the hardest-hit areas appeared to be Carl Junction and Eldon.
The tornadoes in Missouri were among the most violent bursts of severe weather in a week when forecasters feared life-threatening storms. The Storm Prediction Center, a government office in Norman, Okla., had issued a “high” risk outlook for Oklahoma and Texas on Monday, an unusually grave indication of worrisome conditions.
Although some tornadoes formed on Monday, the worst of the week’s weather seemed to be unleashed Wednesday night and into the early hours of Thursday.
“Violent tornado confirmed — shelter now!” the National Weather Service office in St. Louis warned residents of Jefferson City, which has about 40,000 residents, shortly before midnight.“Violent tornado confirmed — shelter now!” the National Weather Service office in St. Louis warned residents of Jefferson City, which has about 40,000 residents, shortly before midnight.
“Major tornados across state tonight, including Jeff City,” Gov. Mike Parson wrote on Twitter. “We’re doing okay but praying for those that were caught in damage, some are still trapped — local emergency crews are on site and assisting.” Less than two hours later, Mr. Parson wrote on Twitter, “We’re doing okay but praying for those that were caught in damage, some are still trapped — local emergency crews are on site and assisting.”
The Jefferson City police said at 2 a.m. that several people were injured and that others were reported to be trapped, but there were no confirmed deaths.
“It’s a chaotic situation right now,” Lt. David Williams of the Jefferson City Police said. “We are trying to identify the people that need our help the most.”“It’s a chaotic situation right now,” Lt. David Williams of the Jefferson City Police said. “We are trying to identify the people that need our help the most.”
The Missouri Department of Public Safety said Thursday morning that Jefferson City hospitals had confirmed at least nine patients with injuries from the storm. “All Jefferson City Firefighters have been called back and are beginning rescue operations,” the local fire department wrote on Facebook. “Please Pray for our Citizens.”
The National Weather Service warned of heavy rainfall over central Missouri. A flash-flood watch was in effect, and parts of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers were flooding, it said.The National Weather Service warned of heavy rainfall over central Missouri. A flash-flood watch was in effect, and parts of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers were flooding, it said.
The violent weather hit just two days after storms battered parts of Oklahoma and Texas.
The storms on Wednesday hit on the eighth anniversary of a tornado that killed 161 people in Joplin, Mo., one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in American history.The storms on Wednesday hit on the eighth anniversary of a tornado that killed 161 people in Joplin, Mo., one of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in American history.