Thought this tragic event deserved warranted a new thread rather than just adding to the other Tornado one
Mid West turned into another weather warzone: Fresh storms leave 30 dead as tornado rips through Missouri hospital
* Medical centre takes direct hit from the twister
* Phone and power lines cut off hampering the rescue effort
* Lethal tornado tore a path a mile wide and four miles long
* Governor declares state of emergency
At least 30 people have been killed - and an unknown number injured and trapped - after a tornado nearly one mile wide ripped through Joplin in Missouri.
Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges confirmed the number of dead early this morning.
Governor of the state Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency and activated the Missouri National Guard in response to the destruction the storm left in its wake.
St. John's Regional Medical Centre in Joplin was fully evacuated after it took a direct hit from the tornado, and seven people have been reported dead at a local nursing home, according to police reports.
Emergency: Extensive damage can be seen at the St John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, Missouri. An emergency agency spokesman says fatalities had been reported but was unsure of the exact figure
Ryan Nicholls, of the Springfield-Greene County Office of Emergency Management, had earlier said that 24 fatalities had been confirmed. But, with no electricity or communications available in the affected area, it was hard to get vital information in or out.
State and local law enforcement agencies, including fire mutual aid, are coordinating search and rescue and recovery operations.
It is the latest in a string of natural disasters to strike the U.S. - beginning with blizzards shutting down the North-East over New Year, and wildfires devastating the South. A deadly system of twisters in April and the continuing flooding crisis of the Mississippi River will push the cost of recovery and compensation over $5 billion.
Added to this are the predictions of a bumper hurricane season this year in the South-East, and the prospect of nine Western states - from Washington to New Mexico - suffering flooding as snowpacks up to 60ft deep in places melt and swell waterways in the warmer weather.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol sent troopers from other regions to help local officers in southern Missouri deal with the destruction, according to a statement from a Missouri Governor's official.
Mr Nixon said: 'These storms have caused extensive damage across Missouri, and they continue to pose significant risk to lives and property.
Community spirit: Residents of Joplin help a woman who survived in her basement after a tornado tore a path a mile wide and four miles long destroying homes and businesses
A total mess: Rachel Hurst picks through her belongings that were strewn about from her garage that was blown away in Minneapolis on Sunday
Heatbreaking: Joplin resident Chue Vang, 50, reacts after coming home to discover that her home was destroyed by the devastating tornado
'As a state, we are deploying every agency and resource available to keep Missouri families safe, search for the missing, provide emergency medical care, and begin to recover.'
The storm hit at 6pm. Phone communications in and out of Joplin, which has a population of about 50,000 people near the Kansas/Missouri border, were largely cut off.
Earlier in the day at least one person died when a tornado hit Minneapolis, ripping through homes, blowing over hundreds of trees and leaving dozens with minor injuries.
Devastation: Emergency personnel walk through a neighbourhood severely damaged by a tornado near the Joplin hospital. There are are no firm details on the number of dead or injured, as the hospital is out of action
Minneapolis spokeswoman Sara Dietrich said one death was confirmed by the Hennepin County medical examiner.
Tornado warnings and watches were issued Sunday evening throughout parts of the central U.S.
Two fire stations in Joplin lost their roofs in the twister, but no fatalities had been reported at either station.
Damage: Emergency personnel assess the remains of the Academy Sports building at 17th St. and Range Line Road in Joplin
The tornado came a day after powerful storms walloped north-east Kansas, wrecking 200 homes and killing one man.
In Minneapolis, Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer said a tornado hit the St. John's Regional Medical Centre and that there are multiple reports of injuries.
A further 18 people were hurt were treated at North Memorial Hospital, where spokesman Wendy Jerde said the injuries were not serious.
Carnage: Rescue vehicles line up along northbound Rangeline Road in Joplin, Mo. after a fatal tornado swept through the city
Crushed: Vehicles were picked up and dumped across the city by the tornado which left 30 people dead and dozens injured
The metro area's other two trauma centres, Hennepin County Medical Centre in Minneapolis and Regions Hospital in St. Paul, reported no injuries.
National Weather Service meteorologist Todd Krause said the line of damage stretched from just west of Minneapolis through the city and into the north-eastern suburbs.
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said it wasn't immediately clear how many homes were affected, simply saying: 'It's a lot.'
Though the damage covered several blocks, it appeared few houses were totally demolished. Much of the damage was to roofs, front porches that had been sheared away and fences.
The tornado left part of a garage door in a tree and many large trees were left leaning against houses.
Pat Trafton said her family escaped unharmed after a tree was left leaning against her house.
Mrs Trafton, 67, said: 'It's been a crazy day.
'They say it was a monster tornado. It all just happened so fast.'
Bettered streets: Debris is scattered about in Minneapolis. On Sunday night a tornado warning was issued for several areas in central states
Path of destruction: No house escaped the wrath of nature in some of Minneapolis
It was the first tornado to hit the city since August 2009. 'There was no doubt right away,' the meteorologist said.
North Minneapolis resident Tiffany Pabich was taking a nap just as the tornado blew through.
She said: 'It went right between our houses. A tree landed on top of my car. We smelled gas right away.'
Flattened by trees: Theresa Pyka surveys the damage on Sunday after two trees came down on her home and cars in northern Minneapolis
A taste of spring? Trees were stripped of branches and many were left resting against houses
The storms uprooted as many as 50 natural gas service lines in Minneapolis and suburban St. Louis Park, and CentrePoint Energy warned residents to be careful of gas leaks. Xcel Energy reported more than 20,000 of its customers lost electricity in the metro area.
The Minneapolis Police Department asked people who didn't live in the area to stay away.
A shelter for those displaced by the storm was set up Sunday afternoon at a nearby armoury.
In the north-east Kansas, powerful storms spawned funnel clouds and hail that ripped limbs off of trees and shattered windows.
About 200 homes were damaged in and around Reading with the tornado sweeping through the small town around 9:15 pm Saturday night, said Kansas Division of Emergency Management spokeswoman Sharon Watson.
A man was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to Newman Regional Hospital in Emporia, about 20 miles from where the tornado hit, hospital supervisor Deb Gould said.
Death sky: Storms clouds pass behind Buck Creek School in Kansas on Saturday night
Lightning strikes: a crucifix in a cemetery near Easton while a severe thunderstorm rages in the distance
Ms Gould said two other people were brought in with injuries but she had no further details.
Five people were injured in all, along with the person killed, said Ms Watson.
Reading, a town of about 250 people is 50 miles south of the Kansas capital city, Topeka.
Severe thunderstorms pelted the region with hail that some Topeka residents claimed was the size of baseballs, authorities said this morning.
'Hail the size of baseballs': rocked Reading - a town of about 250 people, 50 miles south of capital city Topeka
The storms hit the area from 6pm until midnight with the first significant calls of damage coming in about 6:30 p.m. local in Shawnee County, Ms Watson told CNN.
'There was significant damage caused by large hail, which broke windows and broke tree limbs,' she said.
The local post office and volunteer fire department were damaged, and all roads in and out of the town have been closed off.
'I'm hoping it's over for us,' said Ms Gould, noting that local authorities were still at the scene in Reading this morning.
Clean-up begins: 'There was significant damage caused by large hail, which broke windows and broke tree limbs,' Ms Watson said. The local post office and volunteer fire department were damaged
Reverend Lyle Williams, who is a pastor for about 10 worshippers at the Reading First Baptist Church, said the church suffered extensive damage:
'Yeah, it's pretty bad,' he said. 'My daughter was out there and told me about it.'
'I'm not going to be able to have church today that's for sure,' he added, saying he's been a pastor at the church for 21 years.
In Jefferson County, a mobile home was destroyed with an elderly couple was trapped inside, Ms Watson told CNN. She said responders cleared the debris and rescued the couple unhurt.
Power had been restored in the town by early Sunday and a shelter was being set up at a local school.
The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado also touched down in Topeka and northeast of the city near Lake Perry, where damage was reported at a nearby campsite, Ms Watson said.
While many states have been struck by severe storms this spring, Kansas has been having one of its lightest tornado seasons in decades, according to the National Weather Service.
One of Kansas' lightest seasons in decades: a tractor stands in the remains of a tornado-damaged building
Until Saturday, no tornadoes had been reported in May, a month that averages nearly 30. Last May, 127 tornadoes tore through the state.
Governor Sam Brownback declared an emergency for 16 counties, including the one surrounding Reading, Ms Watson said.
The declaration allows state resources to be used in recovery and cleanup and paves the way for federal assistance if needed.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...dead-twister-rips-hospital.html#ixzz1NAYAHrHe
