Twisters Kill Dozens In South

At Least 55 Killed, Hundreds Injured By Dozens Of Tornadoes That Plowed Across 5 States

(CBS/AP)  Crews searched Wednesday for more victims of deadly tornadoes that killed at least 55 people and injured hundreds more as they tore across five states, ripping off a shopping mall roof, demolishing mobile homes and blowing apart warehouses.

The victims were 28 people in Tennessee, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and four in Alabama, emergency officials said. Among those killed were parents who died with their 11-year-old in Atkins, Arkansas, about 60 miles northwest of Little Rock. Hundreds more were injured.

The family died from trauma when their home "took a direct hit" from the storm, Pope County Coroner Leonard Krout said.

"Neighbors and friends who were there said, 'There used to be a home there,"' Krout said.

Nearby interstate 40 was closed. Roads in the region are littered with overturned vehicles, reports CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes.

Ray Story tried to get his 70-year-old brother, Bill Clark, to a hospital after the storms leveled his mobile home in Macon County, about 60 miles northeast of Nashville. He died as Story and his wife tried to navigate debris-strewn roads in their pickup truck, they said.

"He never had a chance," Nova Story said. "I looked him right in the eye and he died right there in front of me."

There are reports in Atkins, that a mobile home was flung 300 feet and a man who lived in it is still missing, reports Cordes.

CBS News correspondent Kelly Cobiella reports that people in this part of the country are accustomed to tornadoes, but aren't expecting them this early in the year.

Just five weeks into 2008, there have been more than 200 tornado sightings nationwide; compared to 59 in an average year. Not only is this an active start to the season, but a deadly one as well. In all of last year, 81 people were killed in tornados; this year that number is already up to 57.

"It's cold air and warm air colliding," CBS Early Show meteorologist Dave Price explained to Cobiella, "but the bigger the temperature disparity, the more violent that reaction can be, as we just saw."

President Bush says the U.S. government will help those affected by a string of deadly tornadoes in the South.

"Loss of life, loss of property - prayers can help and so can the government," Mr. Bush said Wednesday. "I do want the people in those states to know the American people are standing with them."

The president says he has called the governors of Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee and assured them the administration is ready to help and to deal with any emergency requests.

He has asked state and local agencies for damage assessments to support a planned request for federal disaster relief.

The twisters, which also slammed Mississippi, were part of a spasm of winter weather that raged across the nation's midsection at the end of the Super Tuesday primaries in several states. As the extent of the damage quickly became clear, candidates including Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee paused in their victory speeches to remember the victims.

Before dawn Wednesday, the system moved on to Alabama, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds, causing several injuries in counties northwest of Birmingham. Three people were killed when a reported twister struck Aldridge Grove, in the northern part of the state near Decatur, said Brenda Morgan, deputy emergency management director in Lawrence County.

An apparent tornado damaged eight homes in Walker County, Ala., and a pregnant woman suffered a broken arm when a trailer home was tossed by the winds, said county emergency management director Johnny Burnette.

"I was there before daylight and it looked like a war zone," he said.

Northeast of Nashville, a spectacular fire erupted at a natural gas pumping station northeast of Nashville that authorities said could have been damaged by the storms. An undetermined number of people were reported dead.

Power was knocked out and the local hospital was running on generators. Only the emergency room had lights on.

Eight students were trapped in a battered dormitory at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., until they were finally freed. Tornadoes had hit the campus in the past, and students knew the drill when they heard sirens, said Union University President David S. Dockery.

At least two dormitories were destroyed. Dockery told NBC's "Today" that the drills and planning "saved those lives."

He said about 51 students were taken to the hospital and nine stayed through the night, but added "there are positive days ahead for them."

Well after nightfall Tuesday, would-be rescuers went through shattered homes in Atkins, a town of 3,000 near the Arkansas River. Around them, power lines snaked along streets and a deep-orange pickup truck rested on its side. A navy blue Mustang with a demolished front end was marked with spray paint to show it had been searched.

Outside one damaged home, horses whinnied in the darkness, looking up only when a flashlight reached their eyes. A ranch home stood unscathed across the street from a concrete slab that had supported the house where the family of three died.

Gov. Mike Beebe planned to tour Atkins on Wednesday.

In Memphis, high winds collapsed the roof of a Sears store at a mall. Debris that included bricks and air conditioning units was scattered on the parking lot, where about two dozen vehicles were damaged.

A few people north of the mall took shelter under a bridge and were washed away, but they were pulled out of the Wolf River with only scrapes, said Steve Cole of the Memphis Police Department.

In Mississippi, Desoto County Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Steve Atkinson said a twister shredded warehouses in an industrial park in the city of Southaven, just south of Memphis.

"It ripped the warehouses apart. The best way to describe it is it looks like a bomb went off," Atkinson said.

At the W.J. Matthews Civic Center in Atkins, a shelter was empty except for American Red Cross volunteers and a single touch-screen voting machine. The civic center had hosted an election precinct earlier Tuesday. Traffic was snarled on nearby Interstate 40, with tractor-trailers on their sides.

Officials do not know what started a fire at the Columbia Gulf Natural Gas pumping station near Green Grove, about 40 miles from Nashville. The blaze could be seen in the night sky for miles around, with flames shooting "400, 500 feet in the air," said Tennessee Emergency Management spokesman Donnie Smith.

The couple killed with their adult daughter were in their mobile home near Greenville in western Kentucky when a tornado went through their trailer park.

On Jan. 8, tornadoes were reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Two died in the Missouri storms.

[irliberal]

Look it''s an act of God!! Oh wait.... this was Christian country. It must have been... well... who could it be now? Saaaatan???? (church-lady voice)

Or maybe... it was just the weather! Go figure.

[rowdytexan2]

Shame on you, lol


/ /


Hahaha!

[ubrew12]

Article: "Tornadoes tore across Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi... in a rare midwinter outbreak of violent weather"
Not rare for the future.

[bdrlnt4rl]

this is not coincedence. maybe a warning from god to the brainwashed huck supporters to be religious intolerant.

[bdrlnt4rl]

when the brits were closing in on washington dc to over take it, a big storm came up with tornados and scattered the brits and they left, saving the great united states. fact, look it up.

religious intolerance will be delt with accordingly..

[samrensho]

Bet al Quaida is responsible.

[bdrlnt4rl]

no, the actions of huck and his religious intolerance is responsible.

[bdrlnt4rl]

this should be a sign to mississippians and how they should vote.

[bdrlnt4rl]

i am buying a storm shelter if huck gets into the white house. please buy yours as well.

[orbit_joshg]

I live in Nashville, Tenn.

I''ll assure you most Nashvillians or suburbians that live outside of the city don''t think this was an "ACT of God" or an "Act of Satan"

Its freaking mother nature.

But if you guys could of seen the gas pipeline explosion in the sky, it looked like a nuclear bomb went off.. it was massive.

My mom lives in Westmoreland and told me that people were looking in wheat fields for missing people. Now thats eerie.

I hope for the best for the folks to the northwest, of town.

[drinuk]

Someone is trying to tell you folks something, THEY think you have gotten it all wrong yet again !!

That uncomfortable bed you''re making is going to cripple you during the next four years, despite warnings you just never learn.

[kevboom]

"maybe a warning from god to the brainwashed huck supporters"

How stupid do you have to be to think a "God" would send tornadoes to ravage a state like Tennessee with both republicans AND democrats just because 34% of the republicans voted for Huckabee? What "God" do you worship. Idiot.

[maiingan]

There are millions of inadequately-built structures seemingly waiting to be destroyed by tornadoes and, unfortunately, in many cases killing people. Yet tornado-resistant construction options do exist and are feasible. On the heels of every tornado, media should do feature stories about them. By the way, why has this not happened for the Greensburg, Kansas EF5 tornado in May 2007? Is ''being hit in the face with a 2x4'' not enough? Do people need to be hit in the face with steel I-beams? Why are national, mainstream media like CBS News not doing pointed stories about Insulating Concrete Forms (e.g. Amvic) and Monolithic Dome?

[hwy71so]

I hope to goodness that none of you have something like this befall you.

Its a downright shame, the pathetic spite you have for human life.

[abigail70]

I hate to cheer in with a "me, too!", however you''ve said it more clearly and brilliantly than I ever could.

"I hope to goodness that none of you have something like this befall you.

Its a downright shame, the pathetic spite you have for human life. "

[sgtrds]

Horrible tragic ne3ws. Here''s hoping FEMA and the administration doesn''t drop the ball this time too.

[underdogus]

THE Gaza pull out was completed on 6/22/05 HURRICANE KATRINA then struck exactly one week later on 8/29/05 COINCEDENCE? what are the odds of one of the worse hurricanes,if not the worse, has just hit our COUNTRY exactly one week after the GAZA pullout??? TAKE a piece of HIS land. and HE will strike back by rendering judgement on a piece of our land..eye for an eye,tooth for a tooth...watch your head....

[ekmorris88]

Some of the comments here are among the most insensitive and idiotic I''ve ever seen. I''ve been hit by 2 tornadoes, an F5 and an F4 (by the old system), and nothing would have angered more than these comments during those painful times in my life. To suggest that this is some sort of attack on people for voting one way, or even to say things like "Bet al Quaida is responsible" just makes light of a very serious situation. People are suffering, mourning, children have lost parents, parents have lost children. Please, try to put yourselves in their shoes and have a little compassion.

[irliberal]

These blogs need a real-life photo area of each poster. That would be scarier than any tornado. 8-)

[janiet3]

I live in Arkansas. And I''d just like to know, "Where is your heart?" Or is this "compassionate conservatism" at its finest?

Because I am going to elaborate just a little bit for you and maybe you can actually find some of it. There are people, yeah real live people, whose hearts have been ripped out, have nothing/zero left, and you can sit there and make jokes about it?? If there is a God, perhaps he will find a way to make it not quite so laughable for you.

There!! Said my piece, and at least my heart goes out to those in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and all the rest devasted and emotionally ripped by these events. Shhhhh, but God bless! Love to all, Janie

[angie46-2009]

I live in Arkansas. Arkansas did get hit hard by the tornado''s. It totally wiped 1 town away, there is nothing at all left of it. The town is Gassville.

[janiet3]

-------Some of the comments here are among the most insensitive and idiotic I''''ve ever seen. I''''ve been hit by 2 tornadoes, an F5 and an F4 (by the old system), and nothing would have angered more than these comments during those painful times in my life.-------))

EK, thank you for your thoughts. They are mine exactly. I have been in 4 tornados myself, and it is nothing to joke about.

Last night it was said the "Super Cell" that was the origin of them was 38,000 feet high and stayed at or near the ground 3 and 1/2 hours. It was said to be, on a scale of 1 to 10, an 8 rating. Now, folks that''s big, and not only that but it took people and homes and leveled them like just so many rag dolls and toys.

Easy for you to say is all I can think of at the moment. For shame, some of you, absolutely for shame.

[usbrit-2009]

IRLiberal - for the first time you make me embarassed for being a liberal. My family is me, my wife and an 11-year-old son like the one wiped out in Arkansas. I hope we never have to face the horror they must have felt last night.

[irolynot]

Insensitive media, federal govt., state & local govts invokes insensitive people. This world and those who lack compassion, should be ashamed. Those who mock better know that Karma does happen.

[sgtrds]

Article: "Tornadoes tore across Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi... in a rare midwinter outbreak of violent weather"
Not rare for the future.

Posted by ubrew12 at 11:22 PM : Feb 05, 2008

I agree. As climate change intensifies killer storms will become more common in formely un-common seasons.

[sgtrds]

Article: "Tornadoes tore across Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi... in a rare midwinter outbreak of violent weather"
Not rare for the future.

Posted by ubrew12 at 11:22 PM : Feb 05, 2008

I agree. As climate change intensifies killer storms will become more common in formely un-common seasons.

[orbit_joshg]

Fatalities are growing in the Northern Nashville Metro Area. Locals believe the natural gas plant either got hit by a tornado or actually a plane, none are still confirmed yet.

I''m a democrat who lives in Nashville, and I''d like to say I am pretty disgusted at how some of you people are so insensitive.. if anything NO ONE asked for this.

No liberal.
No conservative.
NO ONE, deserves devastation like this.

[misands]

I live in Nashville and was lucky to escape damage at my house, but I have a friend that has lost almost everything she owns. Luckly her and her family survived, but it appears a lot around her did not. Hopefully people from New England to California will say a litle prayer for us in Tennessee and the other states affected by this disaster as a lot of people have lost their live here.

[misands]

I''''m a democrat who lives in Nashville, and I''''d like to say I am pretty disgusted at how some of you people are so insensitive.. if anything NO ONE asked for this. - orbit_joshg
____________________
Same here....I''m a Democrat in Nashville and I can''t believe the way some of the fellow liberals are behaving.

[danstoned]

Those that express disgust towards others that rant about the South deserving to implode into itself may be the same people that sided with Barbara Bush about how much better off blacks were in New Orleans when they were stranded in the local football stadium following Katrina. Is this at all possible? Afterall, what goes around, comes around.

[underdogus]

GOD THE FATHER HAS ALREADY SAID IN HIS WORD THAT HE WILL BLESS THOSE WHO WILL BLESS ISRAEL AND CURSE THOSE WHO WILL CURSE ISRAEL....

[b-easy63]

My heart goes out to the victim''s families and the people in those states for their losses. Trailer parks for some reason, always seem to act like lightening rods for tornadoes--they swerve towards them like a ball hurtling towards pins in a bowling alley. I wonder if any meteorologists are studying why this is--since this happens all over the US, there must be something about the way they are manufactured or the demographics which somehow attracts the funnel cloud. Could it be the use of certain kinds of metal in a certain configuration, or perhaps the concentration of so many metalic structures in one area? One thing is certain, whenever there is a twister, if a trailer park is near--it almost always gets a hit. This is sooo sad, how terrible.

There is a lot of unusual weather this year. Here in Kansas, my tulips started coming up due to the almost 70 degree weather we had for 2 days--then by evening yesterday, there was freezing hail and snow and we were in a blizzard. For Scripture believers, the bible says that this would be a sign that the last days were upon the earth: WArs and rumours of war, and you would not be able to tell the seasons apart. And here we are.

[nlm2383]

I live in Nashville as well, in the Bellevue area. A tornado touched down not too far from where I live, I believe in Farview, but we didn''t have any problems. I still can''t believe how bad it got in such a short amount of time. At 7pm I was driving home with my window down enjoying the nice weather. By 9pm there were already reports of tornados...

[b-easy63]

HE Gaza pull out was completed on 6/22/05 HURRICANE KATRINA then struck exactly one week later on 8/29/05 COINCEDENCE? what are the odds of one of the worse hurricanes,if not the worse, has just hit our COUNTRY exactly one week after the GAZA pullout??? TAKE a piece of HIS land. and HE will strike back by rendering judgement on a piece of our land..eye for an eye,tooth for a tooth...watch your head....

Posted by underdogus at 09:15 AM : Feb 06, 2008


OK, math is NOT your strong point. Between 6/22/05 and 8/29/05 are a whole lot of weeks not just one--get it right or shut it tight.

[b-easy63]

No liberal.
No conservative.
NO ONE, deserves devastation like this.



Posted by orbit_joshg at 10:17 AM : Feb 06, 2008


Actually we do. WE have visited much more devastation and not in just a one time event on the Iraqi people. Scripture says "Whatsoever a man sows, so shall we reap" America deserves this devastation and a whole lot more--we don''t care what we did and continue to do to Iraq--the least we can get are a few dead and destroyed structures here in recompense. But on any scale--there is no comparison--but if Americans do not deserve this devastation--then neither do the Iraqi people--no matter how much we think our invasion and continual presence has improved what lives are still left.

[underdogus]

OK, math is NOT your strong point. Between 6/22/05 and 8/29/05 are a whole lot of weeks not just one--get it right or shut it tight.
Posted by b-easy63 ...my bad...THE GAZA pullout was completed on 8/22/05..KATRINA STRUCK on 8/29/05..sorry

[howdy258]

b-easy63

"get it right or shut it tight"

I like that - it''s great advice for MANY people on these boards!

My heart goes out to all those hit by these horrible storms last night.

[underdogus]

google ..GAZA pullout 8/22/05..

[underdogus]

The republicans and FEMA have been a disgrace!
Posted by zoe2006 ...libs never die they just lose their minds...

[inventagod]

Bu$h''s God is vindictive....

[bdrlnt4rl]

it is very sad to see this event happen. it is very sad and upsetting. one just cant help but see that the paths of the storms and as crazy as some would say, it makes me very scared of huck. i pray for these people and the peopl of america. we live in scary times, and it could get even more scary. i just hope we are all ready to meet our maker, who ever we choose that is, because tomorrow may never come. we just saw this with these ''freak'' storms. i am truly scared of huck. and this just proves to me i have a right to be. we should all be afraid

[inventagod]

folks like bdrlnt4rl are how Bu$h stays in power.
fear much, think not

[bdrlnt4rl]

i fear the ones who are relious intolerant. and make books and fliers that go on my windshield and door *** spreading nasty and crazy lies about what other people choose to believe. huck is one of those people. he has already shown that evil side of him. not very presidential.

however it is going to be a democratic year. that will be ok. and that makes me less scared.

[bdrlnt4rl]

i am scared crazy of tornados. lived thru too many. why i do not know. i just pray for some comfort for them. i wish i had the money to go help.

[bdrlnt4rl]

Inventagod

i hope you invent a god to bring peace and help

[hoygie]

Have to suck out all the moisture. Its the moisture that gives these storms their momentum. When cells like these form, you should be able to drop in something that sucks out the moisture. Like rice or something.

[hoygie]

Just like how you stop hurricanes is something as simple as a hallow pipe that goes thru oceans heat barrier. Ya see, what gives a hurricane all its energy is the warm water in the ocean. So if you built like these windmills (that doubled as a power plant or something) made out of hallow pipes, that poked out of the water about 50 feet, and then stuck down in the water, down to that cold water. The pressure variance of these storms will suck all that cold water up to the surface, taking away the storms battery.

[bdrlnt4rl]

dont know if you remember but they tried to alter the weather in south texas to try to bring rain and it caused massive flooding for them down there.

[rushlimpdrug]

so where are all the fools that usually would post krap like:

"Oh tornadoes in the first week of February- big deal"?

[hoygie]

Its like a fishtank, see. When you keep a salt water fish tank, ya have to watch out for whats called "layering". The salt will layer in different saturations. And you have to make sure its uniform. Only in this case, the salt is the heat of the ocean. All that hot water is lingering up on surface, giving these storms all their energy.