Extreme Storms Hit Central United States
At least 15 people were killed across the central United States as tornadoes and other extreme storms hit several states including Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Rescue efforts were ongoing and hundreds of thousands of customers were without power after the storms struck the Southern Plains region beginning late Saturday.
Texas Hit Hard by Tornadoes
In Texas, Cooke County Sheriff Ray Sappington reported that seven people were dead after a tornado ripped through the Valley View area, north of Dallas. Search and rescue operations were ongoing. Texas Governor Gregg Abbott signed a decree for four counties that frees up money and staff to help people whose homes were damaged or destroyed.
Devastation in Oklahoma and Arkansas
In Oklahoma, at least two people were dead after a tornado hit Mayes County late Saturday, while in Arkansas, five people were killed in storms in the early hours of Sunday. Power lines and trees were downed, and some areas experienced flash flooding.
Impacts Across Multiple States
Another death was reported in Louisville, Kentucky. As far north as Indiana, the start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed for four hours Sunday due to storms in the area, with fans asked to exit the bleachers and seek shelter. Nearly 490,000 customers were without power in states stretching from Texas up to Kansas and east to Ohio and Kentucky. Tornado alerts were still active in several places.