A fresh wave of tornadoes battered the central United States on Monday, compounding the devastation already left by days of severe storms that have killed more than 25 people. The deadly weather system has stretched from Texas to Kentucky, leaving a trail of destroyed homes, blocked roads, power outages, and thousands of displaced residents.
In Oklahoma and Nebraska, the National Weather Service confirmed at least four tornadoes Monday evening. The small city of McAlester, Oklahoma, faced downed power lines and road obstructions, while nearby Wilburton issued an urgent tornado warning through social media, urging residents to seek shelter.
By Monday night, nearly 130,000 customers across Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas were without power, according to PowerOutage.us.
The storms caused widespread disruptions. In northwest Arkansas, a concert by pop singer Halsey was canceled due to weather threats. Tulsa Public Schools in Oklahoma canceled all afterschool activities, and in northern Texas, softball-sized hail — measuring over 4 inches in diameter — fell, a rare and destructive sight confirmed by weather officials.
Kentucky has been hit hardest. A tornado that tore through southeastern Laurel County late Friday into early Saturday killed at least 19 people and destroyed hundreds of homes. In London, Kentucky, the local airport, badly damaged by the storm, became a relief center. Workers distributed essentials like food, water, and baby supplies from the site.
“We have 1,001 things going on. But we’re managing it,” said London Mayor Randall Weddle. “We’re going to get it all cleaned up.”
Among the survivors was 77-year-old Lonnie Nantz, who took shelter in a hallway with his family as their home crumbled around them. Though trapped in debris for about 20 minutes, they all survived.
London city worker Ashley Taylor returned to her job Monday, delivering food to emergency workers, despite her own home suffering roof damage. She survived the tornado with nine others and three dogs in a crawl space beneath a neighbor’s house.
“I’ve never prayed so hard in my life,” she said.
In a tragic loss, Laurel County Fire Major Leslie Leatherman died shielding his wife from the storm. She survived with injuries, and fellow firefighters found her calling for help in a field across from a leveled subdivision.
Missouri also sustained major damage. In St. Louis, officials estimated that over 5,000 homes were damaged when a tornado struck Friday. Mayor Cara Spencer said the EF3 tornado, with winds up to 150 mph, caused over $1.6 billion in damage.
“Eight miles of pure destruction, at times a mile wide,” she said. The city awaits a disaster declaration from the governor as a prerequisite for federal aid.
Meanwhile, Greensburg, Kansas, narrowly avoided a repeat of its 2007 disaster, when a tornado wiped out 90% of the town. Though spared this time, widespread power outages were reported.
Tornadoes also swept through Stafford and Reno counties in Kansas, carving a 20-mile path of destruction. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities were reported there.
In Texas, several tornadoes touched down west of Fort Worth on Sunday. One, rated EF1, reached peak winds of 105 mph and caused damage in and around the town of Gordon.
Looking ahead, the National Weather Service warns that the risk of severe storms will continue, moving into Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee on Tuesday.
As storm-battered communities begin picking up the pieces, local leaders are calling for faster federal responses and long-term recovery plans. FEMA, under pressure for slow aid in previous disasters, has indicated it may delegate more recovery responsibilities to states this year.
While rebuilding begins, the heartbreak and resilience on display across the central U.S. highlight both the destructive force of nature and the strength of communities that refuse to give up.
