tornado

Severe storms and tornadoes have swept through the central United States, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. At least two people have been reported dead and numerous homes and businesses have been destroyed in several states. Emergency services and rescue teams are working around the clock to search for survivors and assess the damage caused by the severe weather conditions. This deadly outbreak of storms serves as a reminder of the destructive power of nature and the importance of being prepared for such events.


Strong storms sweeping across central parts of the US have left a trail of destruction, killing at least three people and causing injuries, power shortages and damage to homes and buildings. The US National Weather Service issued tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings for Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa on 19 May, calling on people to find secure shelter. Multiple tornadoes hit central Oklahoma leaving two dead in the small town of Cole,120 miles south of Oklahoma City. The numbers of those injured were unknown as hundreds of people participated in search and rescue operations. The Airport and Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee were also badly damaged during the storms. At the height of the storm, more than 23,000 customers were without electricity.

A number of people found safety underground with reports of residents being trapped in their shelters as mailboxes were blown away. Reports also emerged of some people riding out the storm in a manhole.

This spring has seen many tornadoes, which have traveled across the South, Midwest and Northeast of the US resulting in many fatalities. The storm damage has caused more than $5bn in insurance claims which are likely to rise. Following natural disasters of this nature, property owners and insurance companies must work together to originate replacements and repairs to homes and businesses. It is expected that the majority of financial costs will be absorbed by insurance companies with the remainder being paid by residents, businesses and the state.

Oklahoma is located in the heart of what is known as ‘Tornado Alley’ which is an area stretching from South Dakota to northern Texas that receives the greatest number of tornadoes than any other area in the world. The storms from the recent tornadoes mark the beginning of what is expected to be another severe tornado season.

The mayor of Moore, a town hit by a devastating EF5 tornado in 2013 killing 24 people and injuring 377, has urged residents to install storm shelters. Following the 2013 storm, the mayor announced that all new structures must have a reinforced storm shelter. While the majority of people have taken this on board, many have yet to follow this recommendation with the cost and space required seen as prohibitive. Moore is not the only town which has moved to install storm shelters. There have been similar moves in Oklahoma City since the tornado in 2013.

In response to the natural disaster, citizens of Oklahoma have begun fundraising campaigns to help those in need. In particular, efforts are being made to assist those who lost family members, those whose homes and/or vehicles were destroyed, and those hospitalised with injuries. The state authorities have opened shelters and relief centres in affected areas, and although some towns have been hit worse than others, most areas have been affected.

In an interview with the Independent, John Wiscaver, of the Oklahoma Insurance Department, said: “The challenge with tornado damage is you’ve got a fair amount of data on number of homes, business and commercial properties damaged. But the dollar amount of damage is more dependent on the individual home, individual business and commercial properties.” MR Wiscaver believes the combined value of the storm damage is “going to be pretty large. We’ve already had quite a bit of loss from some earlier storms, and this is not even the peak season.”

In previous years, tornados have caused upwards of $30bn or more than £20bn of insured losses to hit the US economy so this year looks set to be equally costly.

Severe storms and tornadoes are a devastating reminder of the power of Mother Nature. In late March, a storm system swept through the central United States, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The tornadoes that touched down in several states took lives, destroyed homes and buildings, and disrupted entire communities. The severe weather serves as a cautionary tale of the importance of preparedness and safety in the face of natural disasters.


Severe weather conditions, including tornadoes, winds, and hail, swept across several parts of the central United States, resulting in fatalities, injuries, loss of homes, and a power outage affecting thousands of individuals. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service began issuing severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa, appealing to people to find shelter immediately.

Several tornadoes roared through Central Oklahoma, including one that passed through the regions of Shawnee and Cole on Wednesday night. According to authorities, at least two people lost their lives in the small town of Cole in McClain County, approximately 41 kilometers south of Oklahoma City. While the number of injuries ranged from small cuts and bruises to some requiring hospitalization, it wasn’t immediately clear how many were injured as hundreds of individuals fanned out for the search operations.

Power lines were disrupted, trees felled, buildings and homes sustained significant damage, and some were destroyed. Before the tornado weakened and moved away, Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and an airport were also damaged. At the height of the adverse weather, over 23,000 electricity customers across Oklahoma were without power, according to poweroutage.us.

Residents of areas south of Oklahoma City reported being trapped in underground shelters, mailboxes were blown away, and emergency crews used GPS systems to locate addresses, according to the McClain County sheriff, as reported by KFOR-TV. Two inhabitants in the town of Cole survived the storm by taking refuge in a manhole and avoided being harmed, according to the television station.

In the spring season, extreme weather conditions have created a spate of tornadoes across the South, Midwest, and Northeast killing dozens of people. Storms like these usually take place during the late spring season and are caused by warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico colliding with colder air frequently from Canada.

In conclusion, severe weather conditions resulted in fatalities, injuries, destroyed homes, and loss of power for thousands of people in the central United States. The spring season is known to produce such storms that cause severe damage and can be dangerous. Hence, it’s essential to follow weather warnings and take the necessary precautions to protect oneself from harm during such times.