EE weekend megastoral tornadoes, dust storms, wind and forest fires kills at least 39 people

The Association press

A dynamic storm that caused predictions of the dangerous weekend climate generated tornadoes, dust storms and forest fires that killed at least 39 people and destroyed hundreds of households and businesses.

The debilitating but still volatile meteorological system moved Monday to the southeast of the United States and in the middle Atlantic, bringing thunderstorms, hail, harmful winds and the potential of more tornadoes.

This is what you should know about the unusually erratic and harmful climate.

Monday forecast

The forecast warned about dangerous winds from Florida to the north to New Jersey, while heavy rains were probably in New York and New England.

A tornado clock was in force until early Monday for a large strip of North Carolina and Virginia, with potentially reached gusts of 70 mph and possible to greet the size of the Ping Pong balls, according to the National Meteorological Service office in Blacksburg, Virginia.

The massive storm that began on Friday obtained an unusual designation of “high risk” of meteorologists. Even so, experts said it is not unusual to see such climatic extremes in March.

Multiple tornadoes in several states

In Tylertown, Mississippi, the tornadoes scratch high trees in half and erased whole neighborhoods. Six people were killed and more than 200 were displaced, said Governor Tate Reeves.

Hailey Hart and his fiance Steve Romero stuck with his three huskies inside his 1994 Toyota Celica when a tornado shattered his house on Saturday. Romero said he prayed out loud and hugged Hart as the car rolled to his side, the windows broke, before he landed on his wheels again.

“It was a bad dream come true,” Romero said. The couple escaped with just scratches.

Wayne County, Missouri, resident Dakota Henderson said he and others rescuing trapped neighbors found five bodies scattered in debris out of what was left of his aunt’s house. Dispersed Twisters killed at least a dozen people in the state on Friday, authorities said.

The Forensic Jim Akers of Butler County, Missouri, described the house where a man was killed as “only a field of rubble.”

“The floor was the other way around,” he said. “We were walking on the walls.”

Forest fires and dust storms were also mortal

Wind -driven forest fires caused extensive damage to Texas and Oklahoma and officials warned that parts of both states would again face a greater risk of fire danger in the next week.

More than 130 fires were reported in Oklahoma and almost 400 houses were damaged or destroyed, said Governor Kevin Stitt.

“No one has enough resources to fight fires when the wind blows 70 mph,” said Terry Essty, Stillwater firefighters, Oklahoma. “It is an insurmountable task.”

Oklahoma emergency management spokesman Keli Cain said two people were killed as a result of forest fires and climate.

Meanwhile, dust storms stimulated by strong winds charged almost a dozen lives on Friday. Eight people died in an accumulation of Kansas roads that involved at least 50 vehicles, according to the state road patrol. The authorities said three people also died in car accidents during a yellow dust storm, in the Texas Panhandle.

Refuge and recovery efforts

President Donald Trump said the White House was monitoring the storms and would help state and local officials help in recovery. He said that the National Guard troops were deployed in Arkansas, where officials confirmed three deaths.

“Please, join Melania and me to pray for all those affected by these terrible storms!” Trump posted on his social network on Sunday.

At least three people, including an 82 -year -old woman, were killed in downtown Alabama when multiple tornado swept.

In Troy, Alabama, Parks officials said the recreation center where many residents had taken refuge had to close due to storm damage during the night. No one was injured.

“We are grateful that the Lord provides protection over our community, and more than 200 guests at the Storm Refuge of the Recreation Center on Saturday night,” said the parks department in a statement.