Series of Tornadoes Sweep Through Arkansas
Arkansas is reeling from a series of tornadoes that ravaged several areas of the state on Friday. Tornadoes touched down in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Jacksonville and caused extensive damage to buildings, homes, and vehicles. Emergency services including the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management and the National Guard were quickly activated to provide urgent assistance to those impacted by the storms.
Damage Reported Across Multiple Counties
The storms caused major damage across several counties in Arkansas. Reports indicate that trees and power lines were knocked down, and major roadways were blocked by debris. There were also reports of flipped cars, fallen trees, and damaged buildings in several areas. Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Jacksonville were particularly hard hit by the storm with multiple injuries reported in Little Rock.
National Weather Service Declares Tornado Emergency
The severity of the tornadoes prompted the National Weather Service to declare a Tornado Emergency for the Little Rock metro area. The threat for catastrophic damage is considered very high. The Storm Prediction Center raised the risk for severe storms to a rare Level 5 out of 5 risk in eastern Arkansas with violent, strong, and long-track tornadoes likely during late afternoon and early evening hours.
State Response
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed an order directing $250,000 to the Division of Emergency Management for disaster response and recovery efforts. Baptist Hospital’s Little Rock and North Little Rock medical centers are preparing to treat patients with an anticipated surge of patients expected due to the storms.
In response to widespread power outages across the state, people are being urged to head to safe places immediately and have a plan in place in case of future tornado warnings.
Temporary Emergency Shelters Set Up
Little Rock has responded by opening a temporary emergency shelter at Hall High School. The Pulaski County Special School District held students in place due to a tornado warning.
Wide Area Hit by Severe Weather
The tornadoes were part of a severe weather system that impacted a wide area of the Midwest and South of the United States. A rare ‘high risk’ forecast from the National Weather Service was issued for strong to violent tornadoes, damaging thunderstorm winds, and hail across this region. Hail was reported in parts of Missouri, Iowa, and Arkansas with over 50,000 homes and businesses without electricity in the Little Rock area.
Ongoing Situation and Updates Expected
The situation is still developing and updates are anticipated over the coming days as emergency services work to assess the damage and provide support where needed. The National Weather Service advises residents to have multiple ways to receive watches and warnings and know where to seek safe shelter.
In conclusion, Arkansas has suffered significant losses from recent severe weather events. The storm’s destructive path caused widespread damage, injury, power outages, and disrupted daily activities for many people living in the affected communities. Emergency services continue to monitor the situation closely with updates being released regularly on this developing story.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
