Tornadoes and Dust Storms Sweep Through Multiple States in the US, Death Toll Rises to 37

Over the weekend, the central and southern regions of the United States were hit by severe weather, tornadoes and strong winds swept through various areas, destroying homes and schools. As of Sunday, March 16th, this catastrophic storm has claimed the lives of at least 37 people.

The massive storm brought cold weather to the northern United States, deadly dust storms in the central region, and severe thunderstorms on the west coast on Sunday. Meteorologists have unusually classified this storm as “highly dangerous.”

Tornadoes in Missouri claimed the lives of at least 12 people, with Wayne County suffering severe damage to homes and commercial establishments. In the official search for the disaster area to assess the extent of the destruction, Jim Akers, the coroner of Butler County, Missouri, described one of the fatalities’ homes as being severely destroyed, saying, “The house is unrecognizable” and the scene is “just rubble left.”

“The floor of the house is completely flipped over, we were practically walking on the walls,” Akers said.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves stated that by Saturday night, the storm had moved east into Alabama, causing damage to homes and roads, with some roads becoming impassable. Six people have died in three counties in the state, and three others are reported missing.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared a state of emergency, confirming three deaths in the state. According to Michael L. Granthum, the Sheriff of Dallas County, Alabama, at least one person has died due to the storm.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm striking on Sunday.

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency retransmitted a tornado warning from the National Weather Service via social media in the early hours of Sunday.

The warning alerted to the possibility of tornadoes, hail, and wind gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour in some areas. Kemp expressed on platform X that he and his family are “praying for all those affected by this storm and the communities in the storm’s path.”

Kemp wrote, “We will continue to work closely with state and local officials to respond to the damage and assess the needs following this weather event.”

On Friday, pre-storm strong winds caused deadly dust storms, claiming at least 12 lives. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported at least 50 car crashes, resulting in eight deaths.

In the Amarillo area of the Texas Panhandle, a deadly dust storm also occurred, causing three fatalities in car accidents.

The scope of this extreme weather event is extensive, affecting over 100 million people. The storm brought bitter snowstorms to the northern United States, while warm, dry weather in the south fueled wildfires.

Some areas of Oklahoma have issued evacuation orders, with the state reporting over 130 wildfires and nearly 300 homes damaged or destroyed. Governor Kevin Stitt stated at a Saturday press conference that approximately 266 square miles of land had been burned in the state, including a residence on a ranch northeast of Oklahoma City.

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social, stating that the White House is “actively monitoring the severe tornadoes and storms affecting multiple states in the southern and midwestern United States.”

Trump said, “The National Guard has been deployed to Arkansas, and my administration stands ready to assist state and local officials in helping communities recover from the damage. Please join Melania and me in praying for all those affected by these terrible storms!”

Since Saturday morning, the National Weather Service has issued blizzard warnings for areas from western Minnesota to eastern South Dakota, with snowfall expected to reach 3 to 6 inches. Some areas may even see up to a foot of snow. Strong winds causing reduced visibility known as “whiteout” conditions are also expected.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, the threat of dangerous tornadoes will persist until Saturday night, including areas extending from eastern Louisiana and Mississippi eastward to Alabama, western Georgia, and the narrow Florida Panhandle region, all classified as the highest-risk areas.