Storms Rip Through State, Death Toll Rising
by April 28, 2014 7:00 am 81 views
A powerful storm system ripped through Arkansas Sunday evening (April 27) spawning a powerful tornado that killed more than a dozen people and injured scores of others.
The weather system was well-publicized, but the magnitude of one of the tornadoes – which was a half-mile wide by some accounts and stayed on the ground for nearly 90 minutes – pummeled the communities it ripped through.
The killer twister started near Saline County and made a diagonal path towards Northeast Arkansas. Along the way, it gained steam, leveling homes and buildings and causing at least 15 confirmed deaths.
Communities in Pulaski, Faulkner and White counties were hit hardest. Early images from Mayflower and Vilonia show how devastating the tornado was. Talk Business content partner KATV Ch. 7 captured these images right after the tornado swept through the Mayflower area.
A storm chaser video also revealed the size and scope of the tornado’s power.
Personal lives and commerce will be disrupted for weeks in the aftermath of the storm.
Crews from Entergy Arkansas and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas were assessing power outages in the region. Several communities were evacuated due to natural gas leaks.
Content partner KUAR-FM 89 News also has in-depth coverage of the storm at this link.