Seven killed, homes obliterated, and a man flung by tornado as deadly storms batter southern US
Tornadoes tore across America’s southern and midwestern heartlands this week, leaving behind a trail of crushed homes, shredded trees, and a rising death toll. At least seven people have been confirmed dead, including a 68-year-old Missouri fire chief, Garry Moore, and authorities warn the number could climb as rescue teams continue their grim searches.
The storms battered communities from Texas to Ohio, flattening neighbourhoods, flipping cars, and cutting power to more than 213,000 households. With rivers swelling and floodwaters creeping up to doors, the National Weather Service has sounded the alarm: the worst may still be to come.
Missouri and Tennessee bore the brunt of the devastation. In Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Fire Chief Garry Moore lost his life as the tornado ripped through the area. Multiple injuries have also been reported, and emergency crews are still combing through the wreckage.
The White House has approved Tennessee’s request for a state of emergency, and Governor Bill Lee has acknowledged the ongoing risk. “We simply don’t yet know how many lives have been lost,” he admitted, surveying the splintered remains of homes and communities.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, 50 National Guard troops have been deployed to assist after the state declared its own emergency across 41 counties. Winds of up to 81mph have wreaked havoc, damaging infrastructure and forcing widespread school closures. Governor Mike Braun expressed gratitude for the troops, saying they were “ensuring Hoosier safety” amid the chaos.
In Arkansas, the threat became so dire that the National Weather Service issued a rare tornado emergency near Blytheville on Wednesday night. Debris was hurled 25,000 feet into the air, prompting urgent shelter warnings. “This is a life-threatening situation,” the service warned residents.
Lake City, Arkansas, saw homes completely ripped apart. Trees were shredded like matchsticks. Cars lay flipped, mangled in the streets. In Tennessee, roads were so choked with debris that authorities warned residents to stay indoors. Schools across the state have shifted to virtual learning in anticipation of worsening conditions.
Meteorologist Chelly Amin didn’t mince words. “It’s definitely going to be a really horrible situation come sunrise,” she said.
In Oregon, flash floods triggered by historic snowmelt have caused even more havoc. Over 1,000 residents are under evacuation orders. Schools have closed, and officials have raised public health alarms over the possibility of E. coli contamination in floodwaters. Governor Tina Kotek has declared a state of emergency there as well.
As the storm system pushes east, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Tennessee face another major threat: record-breaking rainfall. The saturated ground around Memphis has already begun to swell rivers, and the weather service warns that “significant, life-threatening flash flooding” is likely through Saturday. Historic rainfall totals are expected, with up to a foot of rain in some areas.
Among the grim headlines, one man’s miraculous escape stands out. In Selmer, Tennessee, Matt Vandevander took cover in his bathtub as a tornado struck. But the storm ripped his home from its foundations—bathtub and all—and hurled him into his neighbour’s yard.
He emerged with only minor scratches.
“It’s a miracle,” Vandevander told WMC News. “I’m very happy—happier than I probably should be.”
That miracle contrasts sharply with the devastation surrounding it. As floodwaters rise and skies remain volatile, millions remain on edge, bracing for more storms. And with authorities expecting more deaths to be confirmed, the nightmare isn’t over.
