The destruction and devastation that started on March 14 in the Midwest and South US has continued into Sunday, claiming more lives.
According to the latest updates from NBC News, at least 34 people have died, with many more injured, or their whereabouts currently unaccounted for. With the weather continuing to hit several states, it is presently impossible to glean the exact extent of the number of casualties.
Powerful storms have led to power outages, wildfires and flash floods
However, deaths have so far been reported in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Mississippi. This is as a result of the immensely powerful storms that have swept across the Midwest and South of the US, leading to power outages, wildfires and flash floods.
In Oklahoma alone, 13 fires have been so ferocious that Federal Emergency Management Agency recovery grants have already been approved. Even more concerning, the National Weather Service has stated that they expect the danger of fires to continue again on Monday, March 17, and possibly into Tuesday, too.
The threat of tornadoes and strong winds continues
The latest reports state that nine million people in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee remain under tornado watch. A further 82.8 million are at threat of strong winds, particularly in the middle of the country. Strong storms reached Georgia earlier today, causing power lines and trees to fall into the road and block several roadways.
In Texas, extreme weather conditions have caused wildfires that have spread thousands of acres. So severe are these fires that Red Flag warnings signalling ‘critical’ have been put in place over large parts of Texas, along with Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
Tragically, eight people lost their lives in Sherman County, Kansas, yesterday. Reports from the Kansas Highway Patrol have confirmed that they were killed in a crash that involved more than 50 vehicles during an immense dust storm whipped up by the strong winds.
